Self Care is Important - Taking a break isn’t weakness. It’s strategy.
From an early age, many of us are taught that our worth is tied to how much we get done. Work harder. Do more. Push through exhaustion. Rest later, when everything is finished.
Over time, that thinking convinces us that slowing down means falling behind and failing. Rest becomes something we feel we have to earn instead of something we actually need.
And let’s be honest, we live in a culture that worships hustle and constant busyness. Taking a break can feel lazy or even irresponsible. Especially for caregivers, parents, entrepreneurs and anyone who are used to putting everyone else first. When you’re responsible for other people, rest can feel like a luxury you don’t deserve or time you simply don’t have. The guilt is real! There’s this unspoken expectation that we should always be available, always strong and always productive. As a single mom, I feel this constantly. That nagging feeling that I have to earn my rest instead of allowing it.
Recently, while listening to author Ryan Holiday on Cody Sanchez’s Big Deal podcast, something really stuck with me. He mentioned that his work calendar has large amounts of white space, not because he isn’t working but because there are no interruptions. He focuses on that one thing. I’m sure his to-do list is just as long as anyone else’s. But by focusing on one thing at a time, it gets his full attention and the best of what he has to give. That hit me hard. Instead of stacking my day with task after task. Maybe I don’t need to do everything at once. Maybe I need to give my full attention to one thing, complete it, acknowledge it and then actually pause before rushing into the next thing. Allowing my thoughts and ideas to develop naturally.
Sounds simple? Yeah… not so much. I’m still working on the “resting” part. But I have seen small changes such as creativity, new ideas and new perspectives. I do understand that slowing down isn’t a weakness. It's strength, knowing I have the confidence within myself to achieve what needs to get done. And it will. Rest is necessary. It took me a long time to realize that. I can speak for myself when I say I need rest far more often than I allow it. Burnout is real and I know this from experience. It can sneak up on you in ways that are honestly scary.
True self-care often looks simple. It can mean going to bed earlier, setting boundaries, meditation or just allowing yourself to rest without guilt. These small choices matter more than we realize.
And let me say this clearly—we do not need permission to have “me time,” and we do not need to earn it. Rest is productive and we deserve it. It allows us to function at our best. Self-care isn’t selfish. And if others believe it is... let them. It’s how we protect our energy, take care of our health and keep moving forward without losing ourselves.
Friendly Reminder: Taking a break isn’t weakness. It’s strategy.