The power of rest for women in leadership

In our relentless pursuit of success, rest often becomes a casualty, overshadowed by the incessant push to achieve more. 

Despite research highlighting the importance of rest for optimal functioning, many, especially high-achieving women, find themselves embroiled in a silent battle against it. This conflict, whether mental, physical, social, or emotional, undermines our health, happiness, and efficiency.

The root of this struggle lies in a deeply ingrained message: to succeed, you must constantly push against your natural rhythms. This message creates a divide within, leading to a disconnection from our body's signals. Whether it's deciding when to workout, navigating our workloads, or even choosing what to eat, we're often guided by an inner push that ignores our genuine needs.

Through my work and personal experiences, I've seen the consequences of this internal conflict. 

Even as a professional deeply embedded in the field of wellness, I've had moments of pushing myself against my better judgement. An incident at the gym starkly reminded me of this. Despite needing rest, I forced myself to do my weight training workout, only to find the session joyless and strained. This was a clear sign of my inner conflict: the disconnect between my body's needs and my mind's ambitions.

However, when I allowed myself to listen to my body, choosing to workout on days when I felt genuinely motivated, the quality of my rest and overall well being dramatically improved. 

This experience isn’t unique to me. Many of my clients have faced similar battles, realising too late that their relentless pushing is actually counterproductive.

Understanding true rest. 

Rest is more than the absence of activity; it's a state where our nervous system is unburdened by the constant need to do, allowing us to be fully present in the moment. 

However, achieving this state has become increasingly difficult in a world saturated with stimuli. Our capacity to process information is finite, much like the storage on a smartphone. Constantly filling this capacity without allowing for processing time leads to a systemic slowdown, where even our moments of supposed rest are spent subconsciously sorting through the day's overload.

This overload is why many women find themselves unable to feel truly rested, even if they’re getting enough sleep. Our bodies and minds remain on high alert, processing and filing away experiences instead of rejuvenating. This cycle of pushing and inadequate rest degrades our physical health, as well as our mental and emotional wellbeing.

Feeling guilty about rest. 

For many, especially those in leadership roles, rest has become synonymous with laziness, a stigma that perpetuates the cycle of overwork and burnout. The societal badge of honour for being perpetually busy makes us feel even more guilty for taking time for ourselves.

We feel shame about not maximising every moment.

Ironically, this means we often feel even more tired when we finally do take a break. Years of unprocessed stress and emotion suddenly surface, leaving us more exhausted than before. It's a stark reminder that rest is not merely a physical requirement but a holistic one, encompassing mental, emotional, and spiritual rejuvenation.

Rest is a leadership foundation. 

From an embodied leadership perspective, rest is not a luxury but a necessity. Deeply rested leaders are better equipped to make ethical, balanced decisions. They operate not from a place of scarcity and exhaustion but from a wellspring of nourished clarity. Achieving this state doesn't always require lengthy periods of sleep but rather an ongoing practice of tuning into and addressing our needs in real-time.

The path to embracing rest begins with appreciating its value, not just as a means to an end but as an essential part of living fully. It involves redefining our relationship with productivity, and understanding that true efficiency is not about how much we can push ourselves but how well we can listen to our needs and respond to them.

To combat the culture of constant striving, we must start with awareness. 

Learn to recognise the signs of overextension in yourself and in others. Then, we can begin to implement practices that honour our need for rest, such as setting boundaries around work and technology, cultivating mindfulness, and prioritising activities that replenish us.

Ultimately, embracing rest requires a shift in perspective, seeing it not as wasted time but as an investment in our health, happiness and human potential.