Rest Isn’t a Reward—It’s a Rhythm: Healing from Exhaustion Starts in the Mind

Jen Weir
Apr 18
4 min read

Updated: Jul 29

There are certain temperaments—personalities—that are wired to run. Some of us thrive on competition, even if it's just with ourselves. We seek mountains to climb, challenges to conquer, and we excel in forward motion. However, here’s the hard truth: those wired this way often view rest as a curse word.

It’s not that we dislike rest. It feels foreign. It seems indulgent. It feels like it’s meant for “others,” those in need of more rest than we think we do. Yet, we often forget: while we may be supernatural beings, we still live in bodies. And these bodies? They require care, love, and honor.

Understanding Rest and Exhaustion

On the other end of the spectrum are those who require more rest. They look at the Energizer Bunnies of the world with awe, envy, and self-judgment. “Why can’t I be more like them?” But here’s the thing: both types of individuals need to be honored. They both require rest. Both must unlearn beliefs keeping them stuck in cycles of burnout. This is where we pick up our series on healing from extreme exhaustion.

My Personal Wake-Up Call

In 24 years, I didn’t allow myself to truly slow down—not mentally. I juggled all five of my pregnancies. I even took clients just two weeks postpartum, which now makes me shake my head. After Mark passed, I felt unable to maintain that pace.

Slowing down was painful. I felt like a failure. If I wasn’t producing, then I wasn’t enough. The guilt was suffocating. I had thoughts like:

If I’m sitting, surely there’s something I should be doing.
If I didn’t work out for a full hour, I must be lazy.
Crumbs on the counter? Clearly, a failure.
Baseboards not sparkling? Need to try harder.
Is my oven dirty? I actually asked a woman I knew to check. (Spoiler: she’s no longer my client.)

Then there’s the “mom guilt.” Did I do enough for the kids today? What will they do this summer—be bored? (Cue Miranda Priestly voice.)

These thoughts, and many more like them, are exactly why so many women live with:

Adrenal fatigue
Nervous exhaustion
Somatic disconnection
Chronic fatigue

If you missed it—the thoughts are what need to change first.

Changing Your Mindset

I could provide you a checklist of "do this" and "don’t do that." However, if your mindset remains unchanged, it’s a waste of your precious energy. You’ll try every supplement and still feel exhausted. You might meditate but still feel frantic. Your mind keeps telling you that rest equals weakness and busyness proves your worth.

Does this sound familiar? Whether you’re the woman who hustles nonstop or the one who needs to pause often, you must rewrite your mental script. Everyone needs gas and maintenance, regardless of their pace.

Start Here: Journal Prompts + Essential Oil Pairings for Deep Restorative Work

Reframing Rest as a Healing Necessity

Oils: Lavender, Frankincense, Bergamot. Grounding, clarity, and releasing guilt around rest.

What do I currently believe about rest?
Where did that belief originate?
When was the last time I rested without guilt?
What made that moment feel safe or unsafe?
If I viewed rest as a tool for strength and clarity, how might that alter my approach?
What advice would I give someone I love who is pushing through exhaustion? Can I offer that same compassion to myself?

Affirmation:🕊️ “Rest is not a reward—it’s a rhythm I am worthy of.”

Identifying the Roots of Exhaustion

Oils: Copaiba, Myrrh, Clary Sage. Emotional honesty, introspection, and releasing stored tension.

What warning signs have I ignored in my body, mind, or spirit that demand attention now?
In what ways have I grown numb to fatigue or made it part of my identity?
What fears arise if I slow down?
Who taught me that productivity equals worth, either directly or indirectly?

Affirmation:🌿 “I release the need to earn rest. My presence is valuable, even when I am still.”

Generational Patterns and Mindsets

Oils: Rosemary, Lemongrass, Juniper. Clearing ancestral patterns, clarity of thought, and spiritual renewal.

What unspoken rules about work and rest existed in my family during my upbringing?
Did I ever witness adults in my life resting joyfully—or only when they were ill or burnt out?
What generational beliefs about rest, work, or “earning” love am I ready to break?
How might rest become part of my legacy for future generations?

Affirmation:🪻 “I am breaking cycles that no longer serve my body or my lineage.”

For the Over-Functioners (You Know Who You Are)

Oils: Peppermint, Cedarwood, Roman Chamomile. Mental clarity, grounding, and permission to relinquish control.

Am I addicted to busyness?
What feelings might surface if I embrace stillness?
Do I equate rest with laziness? Why?
Where do I feel compelled to prove something—and to whom?
What’s one small, nurturing way I can practice restorative rest this week?

Affirmation:💬 “I do not need to earn rest or prove my worth through doing. I am enough in my being.”

For the Deeply Depleted

Oils: Geranium, Ylang Ylang, Vetiver. Emotional balance, reconnection with the heart, and a calm nervous system.

What does my body require right now? Am I willing to honor that need?
When did I start ignoring my limits—and what caused it?
What roles or responsibilities have I taken that are not mine to bear?
What would it look like to accept slowness instead of fearing it?

Affirmation:🌙 “I give myself full permission to heal slowly, deeply, and completely.”

Final Thought

This journey isn’t about doing less to prove something. It’s about becoming more whole by rewriting the narrative you've inherited. Healing begins with permission—and if you need it today, I’m here to give it:

You are allowed to rest. You are allowed to stop. You are allowed to feel worthy—even when you do nothing at all.

Let me know in the comments:📝 Which mindset or journal prompt resonated with you?🕊️

Which affirmation do you need to write on your bathroom mirror this week?

💛 With gentleness,Jen