“Shut off the phone. Leave the dishes. Pretend the laundry doesn’t exist.”

It’s Okay to Nap,

Some days, I wake up with the best intentions. I plan to be productive, check things off my list, maybe even go out and enjoy the day. And then it hits me: my mind feels heavy, my body feels tired, and I just don’t have it in me.

For a long time, I fought against those feelings. I’d push myself, thinking that rest was lazy and that “just lying down” meant I was wasting time. But over the years, I’ve learned something powerful: sometimes the most healing thing you can do is give yourself permission to do less.

Rest Is Not Weakness

Napping in the middle of the day. Turning your phone off. Walking away from the dirty dishes. These aren’t signs of failure — they’re signs of listening to your body.

We live in a world that glorifies productivity. But constant doing comes with a cost: anxiety, burnout, exhaustion, and sometimes even resentment toward ourselves and others. Allowing yourself to rest is not weakness, it’s medicine.

The Guilt Trap

Of course, the guilt creeps in. You think, “I should be cleaning. I should be cooking. I should be answering messages.” But “shoulds” will drain you. The truth is, the dishes will still be there later, and the world will not fall apart if you don’t reply right away.

The only thing that truly suffers when we ignore our need for rest… is us.

Small Acts of Permission

Here’s what I’ve been practicing:

• Saying yes to naps without apology.

• Putting my phone on silent and enjoying the quiet.

• Leaving the laundry unfolded if my body is asking for stillness.

• Choosing a cup of tea and a soft blanket instead of pushing through one more chore.

And yes… sometimes that laundry pile stares at me. I joke that it practically folds itself — but let’s be honest, it never does. 😉

Give Yourself Grace

Rest doesn’t make you lazy. Rest makes you human. And on the days when sadness, loneliness, or fatigue feel heavy, allowing yourself to pause may be the kindest thing you can do.

So if today you need to nap, shut off the phone, and leave the dishes (and maybe the laundry, too)… let that be enough. You’re allowed.