Prioritizing Self Care: Choosing Rest Over Productivity

What if true productivity didn’t come from nonstop hustle, but from the quiet, restorative moments we carve out for ourselves?

If your immediate response is one of skepticism, I’m not in the least bit surprised, considering that the majority of the messages we receive seem to suggest that more work equates to greater output. Many of these messages also go further to suggest that our worth as individuals is tied to how productive we can be, which leads us to develop mindsets around the need to “earn” rest.

Rest isn’t the enemy of productivity, it’s the foundation. This is a fact that is proven daily when you compare how much more effective work is done in the first four hours of an 8-hour work day, versus when you’re nearing the end of the day; and no, that small uptick after your 2 PM coffee doesn’t count!

There are too many among us who are wearing “busy”, or “surviving-on-caffeine”, or “no-vacation-days-in-over-a-year” as badges of honour, and unfortunately this is encouraged in their workplaces, on social media, or within their social circles. Often, it also stems from internalized and self-imposed pressure.

The good thing though, is that more recently, through all the noise of, “hustle harder” and, “grind until it happens for you,” I’ve been seeing more messages that are in favour of prioritizing rest as an important aspect of success, so let’s build on those messages starting now! So, how do we begin to shift from seeing rest as a reward to recognizing it as a requirement?

Practical Ways to Prioritize Rest

First, we need to reframe our understanding of rest, because it doesn’t have to be about hopping onto a plane for a long vacation or booking a luxurious spa day, as wonderful as those things may be! Rest can be as simple as stepping outside for a few minutes of sunshine between meetings, taking a real lunch break without multitasking, or pausing to do a few deep breaths when the day starts to feel overwhelming. These tiny, consistent acts of self-care are the ones that add up—they’re what keep us grounded, focused, and efficient.

We sometimes treat our brains and bodies as though they are machines; and while they’re beautifully complex, they still have limits. Pushing past those limits day after day doesn’t lead to better results—it leads to burnout, frustration, and eventually, complete shutdown. And that's just what you can see and feel. Inside your body, your blood pressure is rising, your cortisol (stress hormone) levels are too, and your immune system is struggling. In contrast, well-rested people tend to be more creative, more emotionally balanced, and more present in both their personal and professional lives.

But I get it—sometimes even when you want to slow down, guilt starts to creep in. You might feel like you’re being lazy or unproductive if you take a break, and as though the people around you are judging you. That’s where unlearning has to come in. Unlearning the unsubstantiated belief that you have to constantly prove your worth through output. Unlearning the idea that rest is indulgent and must be earned. Unlearning the habit of saying yes to everything and everyone except yourself.

The changes towards better rest and self care habits will take some time to stick, but you can start small. Pick one day this week where you choose to rest on purpose—even for just 30 minutes. Don’t fill the time with chores or catch-up work, use it to do something that genuinely fills your cup. The world will still be spinning when you return; and I promise you that you will show up better—clearer, calmer, and more confident.

Choosing rest over productivity isn't a weakness—it’s wisdom. And you deserve to live from a place of wholeness, not exist in a vacuum of depletion.

So here’s your invitation: this week, try building your own rest ritual. It doesn’t have to be elaborate—maybe it’s turning your phone on “Do Not Disturb” after 8 p.m., brewing a calming cup of tea (not coffee!) in the late afternoon, or lying still for 10 minutes with your eyes closed and no agenda. Whatever you choose, make it intentional. Let it be a signal to your body, your mind, and to others, that you are allowed to pause; that you are worthy of rest, simply because you exist.

Yours truly,

Dr. Lesley Reece

MBBS, Fellowship Institute of Palliative Medicine

Palliative Physician • Educator • Empowering Mentor for Women • Speaker