It’s Okay to Rest: Rewriting the Inner Narrative Around Worth and Productivity

The word ‘productivity’ has now grown to mean ‘to do more’ and ‘to do better’ towards the attainment of a goal. And productivity has become such an integral part of goal-directed behaviour that it impacts one’s worth as well. This entanglement between productivity and self-worth has only been maladaptive to both concepts. Because while an individual strives to attain greater worth through endless work, they often fail to prioritise their need for rest. Especially with today’s rise in hustle culture, where every individual assumes a position in the rat race of life, rest is the enemy. Every step towards the goal without rest leads to burnout out which harms one’s productivity and eventually, their perception of themselves. 

The perception of rest as the enemy of productivity has allowed 83% of individuals working in the IT sector to experience burnout (Xavier, 2025). And these alarming rates of complete physical and mental exhaustion extend to several different professions and sectors as well (Pti, 2025). These statistics only raise the question, “Is it okay to rest even though I am not being productive?” The answer to which has always remained the same: yes, it is okay to rest, and rest might just be the key to increased productivity and worth (Wright, 2025).

Does Rest Impact One’s Productivity Negatively? 

The idea of “No pain, no gain”, which is conditioned into impressionable minds, leaves little room for one to slow down or even pause. This is only perpetuated by today’s hustle culture and capitalist mindset, where one feels guilty to rest. But these ideologies fail to incorporate that rest is a cornerstone towards productivity, and that without the restoration of mind and body, one is walking a path of destruction. According to Harvard Health (2017), continued sleep deprivation and lack of rest lead to a plethora of chronic health problems such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and more. 

The aforementioned effects go far beyond the physiological body and impact the emotional and cognitive capacities of individuals as well. Opoku et al. (2022) found that emotional exhaustion mediates the relationship between sleep deficit and lack of creativity at work. These findings suggest that exhaustion of the body and mind contributes towards a deficit in creativity, which eventually impacts productivity and the quality of work produced. Lack of rest also decreases one’s ability to experience positive emotions, contributing towards mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety and even suicidal ideation (How Sleep Deprivation Impacts Mental Health, 2022). 

So while rest impacts one’s productivity, it is the lack of rest that thwarts productivity. 

How does One Rest without Guilt?

The current culture of productivity suggests that the human body is a state-of-the-art machine that is designed to work endlessly. Following that comparison, it becomes clear that the human machine also requires time to recharge itself to work optimally. Yet, this remains ignored, allowing feelings of guilt to arise when one considers resting. This inner conflict of shame and guilt, which ties productivity with self-worth and paints rest as the enemy, must change. The following mechanisms can be implemented to rewrite this flawed narrative: 

1. Question Beliefs

Cognitive restructuring based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy allows one to challenge their thought process and conditioned learnings. It would allow an individual to recognise negative thought patterns revolving around rest and challenge them with knowledge, and then replace them. 

Example: 

Initial Thought: “If I rest, I will fall behind.” 

Challenge: “Is the belief true?” 

Upon assessment, the individual can opt for a better thought process, which suggests that rest does not lead to failure and can help them perform better.

3. Gain Awareness of One’s Capacities

Not all individuals function at similar capacities. This difference leaves room for variation in one’s productivity and rest requirements. Once an individual gains awareness of their abilities, it can help them understand their need for rest. This greater knowledge of oneself will only promote better restorative activity without guilt. And can also allow one to plan their work schedule to incorporate enough rest that it boosts productivity. 

3. Rest as a Habit and not a Reward.

Viewing rest as a reward for working hard can allow guilt to form when one believes that they have not done enough. On the other hand, if rest is viewed as a necessity and a habit in one’s daily routine, it is met with greater acceptance. Through consistent practice of resting even through short breaks, one allows rest to become a part of their growth. It can also help tackle negative behavioural patterns where one deems themself as the rest as punishment for not doing enough.

4. Enhanced Communication

Communication involves both internal and external dialogue. Internally, one can use affirmations and positive self-talk to reduce the guilt associated with rest. Simple statements such as “I am allowed to rest”, “Taking a break does not mean I am lazy”, “I am doing enough even when I slow down”, among many others, can help resolve internal conflict. Simultaneously, effective communication skills can allow one to set boundaries that honour their inherent capacities rather than making promises that lead to overworking and burnout. 

Conclusion

Rest is not a luxury that one earns after working hard. Rest is a necessity, which, when accepted for its positive value without guilt, turns into an act of kindness towards oneself. One’s value to society is not measured by their level of exhaustion and lack of rest, but rather by the quality of work, which can greatly benefit from optimised schedules which prioritise rest. 

FAQs

1. Why do I feel guilty for resting on my day off? 

The current culture and past learning have ingrained in individuals that one must be productive at all times to be ‘enough’ or of value. This belief allows guilt to arise while resting even on days that are meant for the same. Especially since ‘days off’ have been treated as days on which one can be productive in fields differing from their occupation, such as household chores and more. The narrative of ‘doing nothing’ is equated to being wasteful. 

2. What are some simple ways of resting?

Resting goes beyond sleeping or physical relaxation. Considering the multiple facets of rest which involve emotional and mental aspects, one can rest by indulging in hobbies, going for a walk, journaling, reading for pleasure, meditating and more. It can also involve spending time with loved and closed ones, which can help with emotional strains. 

3. Can rest make me more productive?

Yes, multiple studies have suggested that rest and taking breaks can increase productivity, allowing one to perform better at cognitive and physical tasks (Albulescu et al., 2022).

4. How do I know if I need to rest or if I am just being lazy?

If an individual is constantly experiencing tiredness, accompanied by brain fog, lack of motivation, feelings of being overwhelmed and more, it is a signal from the body that it has been overworked and desperately requires rest. Even signals of fewer vigour suggest the need for rest, which can be misinterpreted as ‘laziness.’ One must listen to their body with compassion, instead of labelling it.