The Radical Act of Rest: Reclaiming a Life That Feels Like Your Own

Lifestyle

Feb 3

There is a myth we’ve all been sold, wrapped in empowerment and tied with a ribbon of possibility. It says we can do it all. Build the business. Raise the family. Keep the house. Stay present. Stay fit. Make an impact. Be a good friend. Be a good partner. Be everything, to everyone, all at once.

And maybe we can. But at what cost?

I have always known I wanted my business to fit into my life, not the other way around. Twenty hours a week always felt like the sweet spot—just enough to contribute meaningfully without losing sight of what matters most. But as the business grew, it became bigger than what one person could hold. And instead of expanding, I tried to carry it all myself.

So I am stepping back. Not because I failed. Not because I am giving up. But because I want to remember what it feels like to create without pressure, to live without constantly measuring my worth by what I produce. Because I want my days to feel whole, not just full.

Black and white image of woman reading book standing in front of a floral tapestry.

The Privilege of Rest

Not everyone can step away when they need to. It is a privilege to be able to pause, and I don’t take that lightly. But I also know that far too many of us push past the warning signs, waiting until we’re burnt out, overwhelmed, and exhausted before we give ourselves permission to breathe.

If stopping completely isn’t an option, where can you simplify? Where can you say no? Where can you create shorter windows of rest—a weekend, an afternoon, even just ten extra minutes of quiet with your morning coffee?

Because the weight we carry isn’t always necessary. Sometimes we pick it up because we think we should. Because we are still trying to prove something—to ourselves, to others, to the world. And sometimes we don’t realize we can set it down until we do.

What the Research Says About Rest

The irony of overwork is that it doesn’t actually make us better. Studies show that constant busyness leads to diminishing returns—less creativity, more mistakes, increased stress. A study from The Journal of Applied Psychology found that people who take regular breaks are more productive and engaged than those who push through exhaustion. Another study from the Harvard Business Review found that stepping away from work improves problem-solving skills and creative thinking.

Cal Newport, in Slow Productivity, talks about the dangers of “pseudo-productivity”—where we fill our days with endless tasks that make us feel busy but don’t actually move us toward a meaningful goal. He argues that real progress comes not from doing more but from doing the right things, with intention, focus, and space to think deeply.

I want that kind of progress. The kind that comes not from chasing, but from clarity.

Burnout Is Not a Badge of Honor

We live in a culture that glorifies doing more. That tells us our worth is tied to our productivity. That tells women, especially, that we should be able to handle everything—with ease, with grace, without needing a break.

But I don’t want everything.

I want slow mornings. A quiet home. A life that feels creative and thoughtful. I want to write, to think deeply, to sort through the thoughts that have been buried under years of doing. I want to bake bread and take long walks and be present for my kids, because they are growing up faster than I can keep up with, and I don’t want to miss it.

And I still want to work. I still want to help women step boldly into their dreams. That part of me isn’t going anywhere. But when I come back, it will be with fewer, more intentional offerings. A shift from many services to just one or two—perhaps Studio Days or Studio Weeks, a deeper, more focused approach to helping businesses build something that feels aligned.

For now, though, I am resting. Not to escape my work, but to remember why I love it.

A Life That Feels Like Your Own

What if we stopped trying to prove ourselves? What if we didn’t build lives around what we think we should want, but around what actually makes us feel whole? What if we let ourselves step back—not because we have to, but because we can?

Because rest doesn’t mean quitting. It doesn’t mean failure. It means making space for clarity. For healing. For living the life we spent so much time building toward.

And if you need permission to do the same—to pause, to simplify, to rest—I hope you’ll take it. You don’t have to do it all. You just have to do what matters.

Hi, I'm Beth, the creative behind Bravely Inspired.

I help kindhearted business owners craft their stunning and strategic online presence. I believe in life-first business and I design websites and branding that reflect your vision, values.

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