6/9/26: why most high-achieving women struggle to rest

Many high-achieving women know how to work hard & “hustle".” They know how to display compassion and share that compassion with others. They are the “doer” and get things done. As Scandal’s Olivia Pope would say, “It’s handled.”

What they often don’t know is how to rest without feeling guilty.

Rest Can Feel Uncomfortable

For women who are accustomed to being productive, rest may not feel relaxing at first.

It can feel:

• Unproductive "(there’s more I can be doing with my time)

• Wasteful (see above)

• Selfish

• Uncomfortable

Many women have learned to tie their worth to their output. As a result of this, slowing down can trigger feelings of guilt or anxiety.

Productivity Isn’t the Same as Worth

Our society often celebrates achievement. We praise busyness & being occupied. We reward productivity and constant output. But we as human beings, especially women, are more than what we accomplish.

Your value does not increase when you’re productive.

And it does not decrease when you’re resting.

Why Rest Matters

Rest supports:

• Mental health

• Physical recovery

• Emotional resilience

• Creativity

• Relationships

Without adequate rest, even the most capable individuals eventually experience depletion. Heard of burnout? Burnout rarely happens because someone is weak. More often, it happens because someone has been carrying too much for too long and their body decided to make them slow down rather than them making that decision on their own prior to.

Learning to Rest Is a Skill

Many people assume rest should come naturally. However, for high-achieving women, rest is often something that must be intentionally practiced. Of course it’s unfamiliar, but with practice, it becomes a habit and routine.

It may involve:

• Setting boundaries

• Saying no

• Redefining success in your own terms

• Challenging perfectionism

• Making space for activities that serve no productive purpose

An Invitation

If resting feels difficult, you’re not alone. Yet remember, you don’t have to earn rest. You don’t have to finish everything first. You don’t have to prove your worth through constant productivity.

Sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is give yourself permission to pause, recover, and simply be human. Let’s chat more about how that looks for you and your life.