Why Radical Rest Is The Most Productive Thing You Can Do

The expectation of constant, high levels of productivity has many names; a few familiar terms include being successful or being a “girl boss”. The modern-day expectations of high productivity also hide in disguise with names such as grinding, hustling, or even chasing the bag. No matter the title, the premise is still the same: work, stay busy, move, produce, and never rest.

Once you realize that rest is positioned as a luxury, a privilege, and not a right, it becomes clear that going against a social norm, hustle culture, and prioritizing rest can be considered an act of rebellion. Therefore, once one begins to challenge systematic, political, and socioeconomic pressures by simply resting, the act becomes revolutionary. This is radical rest, the act of prioritizing your health, your sanity, and your peace. Rest is the resistance.

All major movements have a leader. Tricia Hersey has been given credit for coining the term “radical rest” and starting the movement as early as 2016. The Radical Rest movement has started gaining traction and becoming a widely discussed topic in the health and wellness space. Activists such as Tricia Hersey are shouting the importance of intentional rest from the rooftops. The question is, who is listening?

Like productivity, rest has a few names: work-life balance, vacation, R&R (rest and relaxation), sleep, bed rest, and even the classic, “Netflix binge.” Chloe Johnson, a member and advocate of the disabled community, shares in Cosmopolitan, a news outlet, her struggles with prioritizing rest and feeling guilt and shame from able-bodied friends and family.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine emphasize the importance of an adequate night’s sleep, which is defined as 7 or more hours per night. Anything less than this amount may lead to the development of various chronic diseases.

Leah Marone, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker, shares some of the dangers of performative self-care. She shares that performative self-care allows us to signal that we’re okay to ourselves and to others without requiring us to do the harder internal work of actually becoming okay. Performative self-care becomes another arena where we measure ourselves and another place we can quietly fall short.

Radical rest is less about being performative; taking gym selfies, buying new workout equipment. It is more about actually doing the hard part, which is nothing.

Becki Marie, founder of the Big Love Movement, has created a community centered around advocating for rest to cope and heal from anxiety, burnout, and autoimmune diseases such as IBS, irritable bowel syndrome. In a blog post, Becki shares a few tips on how to rest:

1. Make time for body-mindful yoga to help release tension from your body and clear your mind. (Physical rest)

2. Read a book by someone who inspires you (Mental rest)

3. Enjoy some secluded self-care and create a sanctuary of scents and soothing sounds (Emotional rest)

4. Step away from the TV and your phone 30-60 minutes before bed to reduce sensory stimulation (Sensory rest)

5. Say no to things that deplete you when your body is feeling worn out. It can be hard, and FOMO is real, but your body will thank you. (Social rest)

6. Book a workshop to explore a new activity like candle-making, pottery, or life drawing (Creative rest)

7. 5-10 minutes of conscious and mindful breathing is enough to feel like you’ve hit the reset button. (Spiritual rest)

Becki’s tips not only highlight how to rest, but they also highlight that there are several different types of rest. Physical rest looks a lot different than emotional rest or spiritual rest. Listening to your body can help you decide which rest you should prioritize.

I leave with you an old cliche, “when you know better, you do better”. Now that you know the benefits of radical rest, you have explored some of the ways to incorporate radical rest into your routine. The biggest question is, are you convinced? In an effort to avoid burnout, will you join the ‘less output is more productive’ committee? Or is it team ‘hustle’ and ‘I will sleep when I am dead’, until the end? Leave a comment below and let us know your thoughts.