Resting is Productive
There are two types of people in this world: those who think doing nothing is “wasting time” and those who believe rest is the key to success and happiness.
The three biggest lies I told myself during my doctorate program and in my first couple years in practice were:
Resting isn’t productive
Stillness helps no one
If you’re not hustling, you’re failing
Talk about an unhealthy, incongruent mindset. We, as a society, tell ourselves these things, too.
So, how do we manage this? Where do we start?
Let’s dive in.
Reality Check: It’s impossible not to find accomplishment in the awards and success in the hustle.
It’s brain chemistry. A dopamine hit is a release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain that triggers feelings of pleasure and reward. The brain releases dopamine in small bursts after behaviors it considers beneficial, such as achieving something, doing something fun, or experiencing a pleasurable event. The dopamine hit reinforces the behavior and makes it more likely to be repeated.
This is how hustle culture came to be.
The more you do = the more you are acknowledged.
The more you are acknowledged = the more rewards and attention is received.
Dopamine.
I’ve been there. During my doctorate program, anything that resembled stillness was not enough for me. I thought I needed constant stimulation.
What I actually needed was rest, recovery, and reflection.
2021 was a turnaround year in that regard.
When we opened our doors in 2022, the cycle started again.
When we had our baby girl in 2023, life forced me to slow down again. There really has been no greater time or reason than Motherhood to put myself first. By putting myself first, I also put my children first by default.
My child and future children deserve that. As do you and yours.
Let NOW be the time for you.
Time to be still.
Time to breathe.
But how? What’s the procedure?
Just that.
Give yourself permission.
Put down the to-do list.
Be still.
Breathe.
You are in control of how you wire your brain. Adapt accordingly.
