Transforming Guilt into Rest

Daily writing prompt

Do lazy days make you feel rested or unproductive?

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Lazy days make me feel both rested and unproductive.  Some days, slowing down and having some quiet time to relax is peaceful and makes me feel like I’m exactly where I should be.  Other times, rest feels…restless.  My mind tells me I should be doing something productive instead of lying around doing nothing.  It’s uncomfortable to be in that in-between zone of feeling both at the same time.  

For me, it feels like this internal tug-of-war between my body telling me to slow down, while my brain is shouting for me to keep going.  I feel such a strong sense of guilt on lazy days because I was taught by society that laziness equates to weakness.  So, I’m always thinking that I’m less than or undeserving of rest.  But I’ve learned that it’s essential for my mental health, and I’ve been trying to care and nurture that.  

I’ve been trying to view lazy days as restorative ones.  It’s not a waste of time or anything to be ashamed of.  Since I’ve had such a hard time in the past struggling with these feelings, I’ve finally decided to try to see rest in a more positive light.  I honestly don’t even like using the word “lazy” at all because of the correlation to weakness, and I think we should debunk this myth.  

Honestly, rest is strength.  I’m recognizing my limits instead of pushing myself day in and day out to do more just for the sake of societal expectations.  I’ve been putting my best food forward and doing things at my own pace, and I’m learning to trust that’s enough.  If I’m in desperate need of rest, I no long blame myself for slowing down.