When Rest Feels Like Rebellion

Somewhere along the way, we were taught that rest must be earned. That we have to reach the edge of collapse before we're allowed to pause. That slowing down means we're falling behind. That exhaustion is just a side effect of ambition.

But what if that narrative is keeping us stuck? What if your breakthrough isn't in pushing harder, but in learning how to be still?

Let's be honest.

You've been carrying more than most people know — and doing it without pause.

This isn't about a lack of discipline. It's what happens when your nervous system forgets what ease feels like.

The fog, the fatigue, the disconnect? They're signals, not shame.

You might wonder, Am I having a breakdown?

Maybe not. Maybe you're being nudged to reset before burnout becomes your baseline.

You've carried families, jobs, businesses, ministries, caregiving, and community responsibilities on your back without missing a beat. You've played strong while silently unraveling. You've smiled while internally screaming for someone to just let you breathe.

And maybe you've even gotten so used to the pressure that rest now feels like rebellion.

However, here's the warning we can't ignore: a story is circulating on social media about a woman who worked seven days a week to provide for her family. She finally took a few days off because she was exhausted. She laid down for a nap and never woke up. I won't share her name out of respect for her grieving family, but her story was a wake-up call for me, personally.

Because the body will eventually do what the spirit has been begging for.

If you won't rest, it will shut you down. This is not about fear. It's about stewardship.

Here's what I know:

You don't need permission to pause. But if you've been waiting for a sign, this is it.

Let rest be your reset, not your resignation.

Because you can't rise from a place you've never recovered from.

I didn't create this in a moment of ease. I made this framework when I was tired of waking up exhausted. When my body was screaming, and I kept telling it, "Just hold on a little longer." When I realized the grind wasn't noble anymore—it was neglect.

This reset framework didn't change everything overnight. But it gave me oxygen. It gave me a map back to myself.

Here's how I began to recover:

1. I Noticed My "Collapse Cue"

For me, it was my memory. I'd stare at a screen and forget what I was doing. I'd misplace words. I wasn't lacking motivation, but I was overclocked. Noticing those glitches helped me catch burnout before it swallowed me whole.

2. I Started Scheduling Real Restoration

Not just "rest" that still served others. Real rest. Lying down during the day. Logging off early. Not explaining myself. And most of all, refusing to apologize for needing recovery.

3. I Unlearned My Addiction to Urgency

I had to retrain my nervous system to believe that everything wasn't an emergency. I started pausing before replying. Not jumping at every notification. Letting things sit. Slowness became my shield.

4. I Redefined What Strength Looked Like

Strength wasn't me faking fine while falling apart. It was allowing people to see me in the process. It was receiving help. Crying in the shower. Asking, not always giving. That was a new kind of strength for me.

5. I Anchored in Purpose—Not Performance

Every time I felt guilty for slowing down, I asked myself: Would I rather perform or live feeling whole? I started letting purpose—not pressure—drive my decisions. That's when peace came back.

6. I Practiced Slowness in Small Acts

I didn't overhaul my life. I just started breathing deeper. Sipping tea without checking emails. Sitting in silence for 3 minutes. Those micro-moments reminded me: I am allowed to move like I'm already safe.

The woman in the story never got her reset. But you still can. You don't have to earn your right to rest. You just have to decide you're done running on empty.

This isn't about a lack of productivity or weakness.

It's about reclaiming your capacity to live.

You weren't built to grind forever. You were made to build… but not at the cost of your body, your mind, or your future.

Coach Joi is an AI-powered breakthrough guide. At The Wellness Ark, we developed Coach Joi to help our clients reset, reflect, and rise. Built using our personal wellness and coaching frameworks, she's here to walk with you when life feels overwhelming. Just copy and paste the prompt below here to get started.

Coach Joi, I'm overextended, disoriented, and deeply drained. I've been running on empty and need a personal reset. Can you create a simple Reset Framework I can use to slow down, reset my mind and body, and restore my energy, without guilt? Include tiny steps I can take even when I'm overwhelmed.

Cherelle Jeudy is the founder of The Wellness Ark and Rooted + Rising: The Remnant's Reset—a strategist, wellness writer, wife, and mother of four. She creates tools for high-functioning, purpose-driven women who are tired of burning out in silence. Her work blends clarity, compassion, and conviction to help you reset and rise.

Rooted + Rising is a weekly newsletter for women who were never meant to blend in. Through story, reflection, and practical wisdom, we help the remnant rise: rested and resilient.