How to Rest Without Guilt
Creating Personal Seasons
Constantly being ‘on’ is like trying to run with a full cup.
This analogy is inspired by Layla Shaikley from her post ‘Abundance is a discipline, not a desire’. Rather than pushing through at all times, we must learn to embrace the ebb and flow of life. In the same way that the tide comes in and out, and trees lose their leaves only to regrow them, it would be unnatural for us humans to constantly flourish. We need time to recharge - to sip from our cup before it overflows, and to refill it again.
I was introduced to the idea of having personal seasons when I listened to this podcast with Vanessa Kingori that described how, as humans, we are multi-faceted and move through different chapters of life. Like seasons, some of these chapters will be darker and quieter, and these periods are not something to rush through or resist; they are crucial for the chapters that follow to be bright, expansive, and full of achievement. When we understand this, we can begin to lean into these cycles and plan accordingly.
If you know you have a busy chapter coming up, it becomes just as important to intentionally schedule rest afterwards.
This framework fundamentally changed how I relate to rest. It helped me move away from thoughts like “I am wasting a day” or “I’m not being productive enough”, towards a more sustainable belief: “I need to slow down if I want to perform at my best when it really matters.” Rest became a strategy, not a failure.
As I write this, it is Saturday, December 27th - that no-man’s land between Christmas and New Year, where time and dates don’t seem to exist and everything blurs into one. In the past, this period has often left me feeling agitated and restless. The lack of routine makes it harder to get out of bed; the inconsistency of ‘proper’ meals, replaced by grazing on cheese, leaves me feeling slobbish and out of sorts. This year, however, feels different. I have learned how to rest without guilt, and much of that has come from finding small, gentle tasks that practise self-kindness.
Yesterday, for example, I took a walk across the fields into town with my family. Today, I went for a 10km run with my brother at a comfortable, conversational pace. This isn’t about forcing movement when you don’t want to move; it’s about maintaining a sense of rhythm and routine, but at a slower, kinder pace that honours the season you’re in.
Learning to rest without guilt also requires a shift in mentality. Instead of saying, “I am so lazy,” we can choose to say, “I am so grateful for this time to focus on the things I enjoy.” We so often complain that we don’t have enough time to ourselves, yet somehow feel at fault when we finally have it.
Creating personal seasons has helped me apply this mindset beyond the present moment, too. I know that January will be a busy chapter filled with important work meetings, the start of a half-marathon training plan, and social dates already in the diary. I also know that January-me will be deeply thankful for the rest I allowed myself in December. In the same way, I am mindful not to overload February, giving myself space to recover from the intensity of the month before. These personal seasons continue to unfold - the natural ebb and flow of my life, preserving my energy for when I need it most.
I highly recommend ‘How I Spend the Days Between Christmas and New Year’ by Niamh Duffy for more on romanticising rest, guilt-free.
About Becoming Without Burnout
Become the best version of yourself without burnout by choosing a lifestyle of sustainable habits and productive rest.
The healthiest and most successful version of yourself can only exist when you are truly happy. This is why it is important to take it easy and build habits which are actually sustainable. I hope by documenting my self-growth journey I can help you also live your dream life without stress, pressure, or burnout.
Each post revolves around six key pillars of wellbeing that guide my own life: physical health, mental health, environment, social connection, financial wellbeing, and recreational activities.
If this post resonates, or you are interested in any of the above topics, please subscribe and join me on a journey of gently growing.
Buy me a Coffee ☕️
I want as many people as possible to access and read my writing, so it is a conscious choice to not turn on Substack’s paid subscribers. However, you can now buy me a coffee as a gesture to show you enjoy my work. Any donations are greatly appreciated and will go towards traveling to fuel my inspiration for more writing.
Love!! So glad I could help, it sounds like you are doing fab with your training but its so nice to just be without pressure
Love it