Whenever you think about letting yourself take a cat nap, sit and read a book or go for a walk; does the thought ever cross your mind that “Maybe you shouldn’t”?

Does meeting a friend for coffee or lunch feel a little like you’re getting away with murder or taking too much time away from the “other things” you think you should be doing?

If any of this sounds familiar, I’m willing to bet that you fall into the category of being a highly motivated person who is used to getting things D-O-N-E (yes, in all caps!).

You’re not conditioned to take a break.

Maybe you’re afraid of the chaos that will happen if you do take a break by doing something fun or rejuvenating that’s not on your to-do list.

Maybe you don’t know what rest looks like anymore.

When you’ve been working hard and making sure you’re meeting all of your obligations, sometimes you start to feel worn out, right? Not only have you been doing, doing and doing but you’ve also been using up your well of emotional energy, too, which is even more taxing.

When it’s no longer fun to check-off all those things on your to-do list, it’s time to take a rest.

It’s important to note that resting is not stopping or quitting. It’s about, giving yourself a break. It’s about planning your days in a way where you aren’t asking yourself to be SO productive ALL the time.

It’s also about adding things into your day that will make the journey more fun and filled with joy.

What’s at stake?

If you don’t work in periods of rest into your schedule, so many things can happen. Anxiety, stress, mistakes, lack of clients, lack of productivity, and a lack of fun, passion and excitement to name a few.

But it’s so difficult to relax!

Okay, I hear you. Maybe you don’t have time to relax? Maybe you feel guilty for it because you know that you’ll not be able to do the trillion things you said you would? Maybe you don’t know how to work it in? I totally get YOU!

What to do?

The solution to not feeling guilty about relaxing is to plan for it. Add something relaxing to your schedule every day, every week or as much as you need it to support your not feeling overwhelmed.

If you add it to your calendar, you can look forward to it and not have that feeling like “I really shouldn’t be doing this totally relaxing thing.”

Planning for it helps you to set the expectation that doing restful and rejuvenating things are an acceptable and mandatory part of your process. Incorporating re-charging blocks of time into your schedule means that you won’t get so close to burnout and feeling overwhelmed all the time.

It sets the model for your significant other, children, co-workers and friends that in order to be the loving, awesome person you normally are, you need breaks at certain intervals and that they’re healthy to take.

What do you think? Have you planned something that could be considered restful into your day before? If not, what’s a break that you could add to your schedule this week? Let me know in the comments.

With much love and gratitude,

After a few long weeks of family gatherings, doing big things in business, traveling, having nearly everyone in my family get sick in both big and small ways, having my car break down, working on a non-profit event and ending a long-standing work relationship, I was feeling totally worn out!

Even though a lot of that list includes things that are positive and were intentions I set out to create, I started to doubt my skills and my abilities.

Luckily, I noticed that I was feeling yucky because I was exhausted, not because my skills had mysteriously taken a nosedive. ALL of the things I experienced were very energetically tiring.

When I came across this quote by the street artist, Bansky, I had to share it with you as a reminder not doubt yourself just because you’re feeling worn out. Instead, give yourself a break and do what you need to do to start to feel like you have energy again.

“If you get tired, learn to rest, not quit.” -Bansky

It might be that you force yourself to sit and read for an hour instead of folding laundry or answering emails. Whatever it is, give rest a try and see if that solves those yucky, I’m-so-exhausted feelings after you’ve been super busy.

I hope you have a safe, fun and relaxing week!

With much love and gratitude,