You Don’t Have to Earn Your Rest

You Don’t Have to Earn Your Rest

November is settling in with its own quiet rhythm, isn’t it? The mornings feel softer, the evenings draw in earlier, and there's something in the air that continues to remind us with a gentle whisper: this is time to slow down.

I felt it yesterday when I caught myself making yet another to-do list for the week ahead. Something inside me just... paused. And I thought: "What if I didn't try to fill every moment? What if I just let some space exist?"

It's a radical thought for many of us, isn't it? Especially as we head toward the busier months ahead.

The Pressure to Keep Going

I hear it from so many women I work with - that internal voice that says rest must be earned. That you can pause after you've finished the household chores, the laundry, planned the Christmas shopping, organized the family calendar, and answered every email.

The list never ends, does it? And meanwhile, your body is quietly asking for something gentler.

Maybe you've noticed it too - that subtle tiredness that's different from summer fatigue. The way your energy feels more precious now that daylight is shorter. The way you crave warmth and simplicity instead of constant activity.

Your system isn't being lazy. It's being wise.

November's Hidden Wisdom

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we're still in the Metal Element season - a time for protecting what matters most. Your breath, your boundaries, your immune system, and your clarity. November deepens this invitation, asking us to turn further inward before winter truly arrives.

Think of it as preparation, not withdrawal. Just like animals gather what they need before the cold months, your spirit is asking you to gather rest, to store up gentleness, to build resilience not through doing more, but through being more intentional about restoration.

The shorter days aren't working against you - they're working with your body's natural rhythm. But we've forgotten how to listen.

A Different Kind of Strength

I used to think that powering through was the answer. That rest was something I'd earn once I'd proven I was productive enough, caring enough, reliable enough…. Busy enough!

But here's what I've learned: choosing rest when your body asks for it isn't giving up. It's trusting yourself enough to honour what you need before you're forced to stop.

That's not weakness. That's wisdom.

A Practice for Permission

Here's something gentle to try when that voice tells you rest must be earned:

The "Just Because" Rest (it’s a personal favourite of mine!)

💫 Find a quiet moment - morning, afternoon, doesn't matter when. Sit somewhere comfortable and place both hands on your heart.

💫 Take a slow, soft breath in through your nose. As you exhale through your mouth with a soft sigh, say quietly to yourself:

💫 "I'm resting just because I'm human. Just because I deserve care and Just because this matters."

💫 Stay here for 2-3 minutes. Not because you've earned it, but because you are here.

💫 Notice how different this feels from collapsing at the end of a long day. This is a micro-moment of rest that’s a choice, not as a last resort.

As the Days Grow Shorter

This month, as the light changes and your energy shifts, I hope you'll experiment with a different kind of productivity - one that includes pausing, breathing, and simply being present with yourself.

Your rest doesn't need justification. Your need for quiet doesn't require an excuse. Your desire for simplicity isn't something to apologise for.

You get to rest not because you've earned it, but because you are worthy of care.

Right now. Just as you are.

Breathe & believe, 💫
Lorraine