The Art of Knowing When to Rest

The Moment I Learned the Power of Rest

It’s funny how some of life’s biggest lessons come to us in the most mundane moments. One morning, I was being trained by an exercise physiologist. We were doing a HIIT session—alternating between intense cardio and weight training. Let me tell you, I was feeling it! Every movement felt challenging, every breath heavy—except for one exercise. The stationary row machine. Compared to everything else, it felt almost too easy.

At one point, I turned to my trainer and said, Do I need to go faster or something? This doesn’t seem that hard to me. He burst out laughing and said, You know, you really need to accept rest when it’s offered to you. This isn’t hard because it’s your opportunity to get your breath back in an active way.

I responded with a simple, Oh, okay. But that moment stayed with me.

Giving 100% all the time would mean I wouldn’t make it through the workout. And ultimately, I wouldn’t achieve my goal. Over the next few days, I started looking at my life in the same way. Where was I unintentionally pushing myself too hard? Where was I missing opportunities to rest?

Finding Rest in the Everyday

Rest doesn’t have to be about stopping altogether. I began to notice moments where I could rest actively—where I could give myself a break without completely checking out.

• Sitting down for a cup of tea – Instead of mindlessly scrolling on my phone, I used this time to let my thoughts catch up with me. To process, to sift through the mental clutter, and to simply be.
• Having lunch near the water – At work, I made an effort to step outside, take in the fresh air, and absorb the beauty around me. It became a reset button in the middle of my day.
• Attending Yin Yoga classes – Unlike my usual workouts, these classes allowed me to slow down and tune into a deeper part of my psyche. It became a practice of self-connection rather than just physical movement.
• Even taking a loo break – As silly as it sounds, I started using these brief moments as micro-pauses. Instead of rushing through the motions, I allowed myself a few extra seconds to breathe and recenter before heading back into the chaos.

The Importance of Accepting Rest

Rest is not the enemy of productivity—it’s what makes productivity sustainable. We cannot run on empty and expect to show up as our best selves for our families, our work, or our own well-being. Just like in my HIIT session, if we refuse to take the breathers when they’re offered, we won’t make it to the finish line.

It’s not about completely stopping. It’s about recognizing that small, intentional pauses can make all the difference in how we navigate life’s demands. It’s about giving ourselves permission to rest without guilt, knowing that doing so isn’t lazy—it’s necessary.

So, where in your life can you accept rest? Maybe it’s in the quiet moments between tasks, the sips of coffee in the morning, or the drive home when you let yourself enjoy the music instead of rushing to the next thing. Start small, but start somewhere. Because knowing when to rest might just be the key to sustaining the life you love.

If this post resonated with you, take a moment to breath it in, then share with a beloved friend, let’s create more calm together and contribute to a peaceful future.