You Don’t Have to Earn Rest | The Sunday Reset, Vol. 5
- Reia Chapman, LCSW, LISW-CP
- Aug 10
- 3 min read
TL;DR:
You are not a machine. You don’t have to “deserve” rest to receive it. You’re allowed to stop, even if your to-do list isn’t finished.
We live in a culture that treats rest like a reward.
It’s dangled in front of us like a carrot—after the inbox is cleared, after the house is clean, after everyone else is taken care of. Then, maybe, you can rest.
But what if I told you rest isn’t something you earn—it’s something you’re entitled to by nature of being alive?
If that feels radical, you’re not alone.
The Lie of “Productivity First”
We’ve inherited systems that prioritize output over wellbeing. Capitalism tells us our worth is directly tied to how much we produce. Rest is seen as laziness. Slowness is shameful. Stillness is dangerous.
So we keep pushing.
We drink caffeine to override exhaustion. We keep going even when our body says stop. We “reward” ourselves with rest only when we’ve achieved enough to justify it.
But here’s the truth:
You are not a machine. You are not a robot. You are not a resource to be mined.
Rest as Resistance
Choosing rest before you burn out is a radical act.
It challenges every internalized message that says:
“You haven’t done enough.”
“You don’t deserve a break yet.”
“Other people are working harder.”
But healing requires rest. Creativity requires rest. Liberation requires rest.
Black, Brown, queer, disabled, neurodivergent, and marginalized bodies especially deserve rest—not because of how hard we work, but because rest is a reclamation of humanity in a system that often tries to strip it away.
As Tricia Hersey of The Nap Ministry teaches:
Rest is not a luxury. It’s resistance.
You Are Allowed to Stop
Right now. Mid-task. Mid-project. Mid-scroll.
You don’t have to hit a goal or clean the kitchen or check five more things off your list first.
If your body is asking for pause, you’re allowed to listen.
If your spirit is tired, you’re allowed to retreat.
If you’re overstimulated, overwhelmed, overfunctioning—you’re allowed to say “enough.”
You do not have to earn it.
A Practice: Permission to Rest
Here’s a quick ritual if you’re struggling to pause:
Place a hand over your heart or belly.
Breathe. Gently. No fixing.
Say out loud or whisper:
“I am allowed to rest. I do not have to earn it.”
Ask:
What does rest look like for me right now?
→ A nap?
→ Stepping away from screens?
→ Saying no?
→ Doing nothing?
Honor the answer without judgment.
Even 5 minutes counts.
You’re Not Lazy—You’re Tired
If this post resonates, I encourage you to explore my earlier piece:
These truths go hand in hand. They’re the antidotes to burnout, shame, and unrealistic expectations.
And if you need a gentle reset, download my free Reset Ritual Starter List below. It’s not a productivity checklist—it’s a grounding guide for those of us learning to honor our limits with compassion.
🌿 Free Download: The Reset Ritual Starter List
You don’t have to do more to deserve less pain.
You don’t have to be broken to deserve healing.
You don’t have to be perfect to deserve peace.
You just get to rest.
Rest is not a reward. It’s your right.
Take what you need—and come back to yourself, again and again.
—Reia
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