It had been two days since I was made redundant.
Two days since knowing the meetings had stopped, the work emails would disappear, and my calendar would become a blank slate. And yet, there I was – already filling my time with passion projects, writing, researching, and thinking about what’s next.
Even in the two-month break I’d been on before learning the news, I spent the first month catching up with people I hadn’t had time to see in months – even years, and working through my ever growing to-do list. It was lovely to catch up with people, but my calendar was still packed and I was still busy every day.
Rest didn’t come naturally.
It wasn’t until I deliberately carved out time for myself – time without commitments – that I was able to have the space I needed to just be, and untangle my brain.
And when I finally had the headspace to think, I started this blog. From that moment on, I was busy again.
So now I’m asking the question – maybe it’s one you’ve asked yourself too:
Can I actually rest? Or do I just love being busy?
Redefining What It Means to Be Busy
In recent years, I associated busyness with burnout. But looking back, I wasn’t exhausted because I was busy – I was exhausted because I was doing too much of the wrong kind of busy.
The kind that feels empty. The kind that’s driven by feelings of guilt, expectation, obligation – not meaning. The kind that drains you instead of fuelling you.
I was running on fumes – not because of how much I was doing, but because I had lost passion for what I was doing. My work no longer felt purposeful. I kept pushing forward, but my heart wasn’t in it anymore.
Now, I’m still busy – writing, planning, and pouring energy into projects that I care deeply about. But I don’t feel depleted in the same way.
Because burnout doesn’t just come from being busy. It comes from spending too much time on things that feel meaningless.
The Luxury of Choice
Right now, I have the luxury of choice – maybe not forever, but for now.
My recent redundancy created a window of space that many people never get. I’m deeply aware this kind of time is a privilege – and that’s part of why I want to share what I’ve learned through this experience.
It’s made me realise something important:
Sometimes, we have more choice than we think – especially when we pause long enough to question the expectations we’ve been living under.
I don’t have to be busy right now. I choose to be.
There are no 6am meetings. No deadlines I didn’t agree to. No one measuring my performance but me. And in that space, something surprising has happened – I’ve stopped needing to prove anything. I’ve started to feel like I am enough, just as I am.
That sense of freedom doesn’t just come from circumstance. It comes from noticing where we can take back a little control – even in small ways.
Can I Actually Rest? Or Do I Just Love Being Busy?
That’s the real question I keep coming back to. And honestly, I’m still figuring it out.
I know that I should rest more. That I could rest more.
But part of me still operates in high-performance mode. Part of me still equates slowing down with falling behind – even though there’s no race anymore.
At the same time, I feel energised doing what I’m doing now. I feel clear. Engaged. Fulfilled. So maybe I don’t need to force rest the way I once thought.
Maybe instead of doing nothing, I just need to create better balance:
- Time for creativity without turning it into a grind.
- Time to write without feeling like I have to perform.
- Time for passion projects without letting them become another version of “work.”
- Time to rest without guilt.
Because the truth is, I don’t mind being busy. In fact, I love it – when it’s the right kind of busy.
The Right Kind of Rest
I’ve realised that rest doesn’t always mean doing nothing. For some of us, rest looks like:
- Doing something meaningful at our own pace.
- Having the freedom to follow curiosity instead of a calendar.
- Letting go of the pressure to justify our time.
Rest isn’t just about lying still. Sometimes it’s about finally doing things that feel like you. Things that don’t drain you – they energise you. Things that bring your mind peace, even if your hands are still moving.
And that’s the kind of rest I’m working toward.
Final Thoughts: Redefining Rest
I don’t share this because I’ve figured it all out – I share it because I’m still learning. And maybe you are too.
If you’re someone who thrives on being busy, maybe the question isn’t:
How do I rest?
Maybe it’s:
How do I create a life where I can be busy without burning out?
This season has given me something I’d been missing for a long time. The headspace. The clarity. The chance to think – really think – without pressure or performance.
I know this kind of time is rare, and I’m grateful for it. But what it’s really taught me is this: sometimes, we have more agency than we realise. Even if we can’t change everything, we can start to question the expectations we’ve absorbed – and slowly, gently, start living in a way that’s more aligned with what we actually need.
Even within limitations, we can often reclaim small pieces of ourselves.
- We can say no to something that drains us.
- We can carve out ten quiet minutes that belong only to us.
- We can let something wait – without guilt.
Rest doesn’t always mean stopping everything. Sometimes, it means doing what brings you back to life – slowly, gently, on your own terms.
Right now, I’m trying to build a life where being busy feels like a joy, not a burden. A life where I’m not performing or proving anything – just doing what matters to me, with space to breathe.
If rest feels out of reach, start where you are. Even the smallest way you care for yourself matters – especially in a world that constantly asks you to do more.
It’s ok if rest is hard for you. It’s ok if you love being busy.
Let’s stop pretending it’s all-or-nothing and start finding what’s real – and sustainable – for you.
Prioritising you isn’t selfish – it’s essential.
You don’t need anyone’s permission to honour your needs.
You just need to believe that your wellbeing is worth protecting.
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