Rest Isn’t a Reward, It’s a Reclamation

By Sylvia Jones

There was a time I only let myself rest when I had crossed everything off the list.

Inbox cleared. Tasks done. Client work wrapped.

Maybe then, maybe I’d allow myself a few moments to exhale.

But here’s what I know now:

That version of rest wasn’t rest.

It was burnout recovery wrapped in productivity shame.

Rest is not something we earn through overwork.

It’s not a pat on the back after we’ve drained ourselves dry.

Rest is a birthright, a boundary, a bold reclamation of our time, our energy, and our spirit.

And if you’ve been waiting for some external signal that it’s “okay” to slow down,

Let this be it.

We’ve been lied to.

The systems we live in taught us that rest makes us lazy.

That slowing down means falling behind.

That stillness is suspicious.

Especially if you’re a Black woman.

Especially if you’re carrying the invisible labor of care, leadership, or healing.

Especially if you’ve been told your worth is in how much you produce or perform.

But every time you pause…

Every time you choose presence over pressure…

Every time you say no, so your nervous system can say yes…

You are actively reclaiming your time, your truth, and your wholeness.

Rest is a boundary.

Rest is resistance.

Rest is a declaration that you belong to yourself, not to hustle culture.

And no, this isn’t about being passive.

It’s about being present.

Present enough to feel what’s shifting.

Present enough to ask better questions.

Present enough to remember: You’re not behind. You’re becoming.

Your Mid-Year Rest Reclamation

Take a moment to reflect on these 3 prompts:

1. What am I carrying that no longer fits the version of me I’m becoming?

2. Where have I confused “being available” with being valuable?

3. What would feel like restoration this week, not just relief?

And if this resonates with you, please share it.