Rest Is Productive: Why Doing Nothing Is Sometimes the Best Thing You Can Do

We live in a culture that celebrates the hustle. "Rise and grind." "Sleep when you're dead." "Always be productive." The message is clear: your worth is measured by your output.

If you've ever felt guilty for taking a break, for sleeping in, for spending an afternoon doing absolutely nothing—this article is for you.

Rest is not the opposite of productivity. It's the foundation of it.

The Productivity Paradox

Here's something counterintuitive: the more you push yourself without rest, the less productive you become. This isn't a moral argument—it's basic biology.

Your brain has limited resources. Attention, willpower, creative thinking—these aren't infinite wells you can draw from endlessly. They deplete with use and replenish with rest.

Studies consistently show that:

• Working more than 50 hours a week produces diminishing returns
• Taking breaks improves focus and creativity
• Sleep deprivation impairs cognitive function as much as being drunk
• Burnout leads to significantly reduced productivity over time

In other words, refusing to rest doesn't make you more productive—it makes you worse at everything.

The Guilt of Doing Nothing

Even when we intellectually understand that rest is necessary, actually resting can feel impossible. The moment you sit down to do nothing, the voice starts:

"You should be doing something. There's so much to do. You're wasting time. You'll fall behind. What's wrong with you?"

This guilt isn't a sign that you should be working—it's a sign of how deeply productivity culture has infected your thinking. You've internalized the idea that your value comes from what you produce, not from who you are.

Let's challenge that belief directly: You are worthy of rest simply because you exist. Not because you've earned it. Not because you've been productive enough. Just because you're human.

What Counts as Rest?

Rest isn't just sleep (though sleep is crucial). Rest is any activity that replenishes rather than depletes. This looks different for everyone:

• Physical rest: Sleep, napping, lying down, reducing physical activity
• Mental rest: Breaks from decision-making, mindless activities, daydreaming
• Emotional rest: Time alone, setting boundaries, avoiding draining relationships
• Social rest: Quality time with supportive people (for extroverts) or solitude (for introverts)
• Sensory rest: Reducing screen time, quiet environments, time in nature
• Creative rest: Experiencing beauty, art, or nature without producing anything

Notice that "rest" doesn't necessarily mean "doing nothing." Sometimes rest is a walk in the park. Sometimes it's watching a movie. Sometimes it's staring at the ceiling. What matters is that it restores you.

Rest and Mental Health

If you're dealing with depression, anxiety, or burnout, rest isn't a luxury—it's medicine.

Mental health challenges often come with an extra layer of guilt around rest. Depression makes everything harder, but then you feel guilty for "not doing enough." Anxiety tells you that resting is dangerous, that you need to stay vigilant.

Here's the truth: resting when you're struggling isn't giving up. It's giving yourself a chance to heal.

You wouldn't expect someone with a broken leg to run a marathon. Why expect someone with a struggling brain to function at full capacity?

Permission Slip

Since we're so conditioned to need permission, here it is:

Print this out if you need to. Read it when the guilt creeps in.

How to Rest in a World That Won't Stop

Knowing rest is important and actually resting are different things. Here are some practical strategies:

Schedule rest like an appointment. If it's not on your calendar, it won't happen. Block out rest time and treat it as non-negotiable as a work meeting.

Start ridiculously small. If resting for an hour feels impossible, start with 10 minutes. Five minutes. Just prove to yourself that the world won't end if you stop.

Create rest rituals. A cup of tea and a comfortable chair. A specific playlist. A blanket and a dark room. Rituals signal to your brain that it's time to shift gears.

Put your phone in another room. You can't truly rest while doom-scrolling. The constant stimulation keeps your brain in work mode.

Reframe rest as investment. If guilt is driven by productivity concerns, remind yourself: rest now means better performance later. You're not losing time—you're investing it.

Rest Is Part of the Routine

At TakeChrg, we talk a lot about daily routines and building momentum through small tasks. But here's what we also believe: rest belongs in your routine.

A sustainable routine isn't about maximizing every minute. It's about building a life that you can actually maintain—one that includes work and rest, effort and recovery, doing and being.

So yes, we want to help you take charge of your day. But we also want you to take charge of your rest.

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." — Anne Lamott

Your Rest Today

Here's a small challenge: at some point today, rest intentionally. Even for five minutes.

Sit in a comfortable spot. Close your eyes. Breathe. Let go of the to-do list, just for a moment. Notice what happens in your body when you give yourself permission to stop.

You might feel restless. You might feel anxious. You might feel relief. Whatever you feel, let it be there.

Because rest isn't just okay—it's necessary. And you deserve it.

💤