The Restless Pause: When Slowing Down Feels Like Falling Behind
I thought taking a break would feel like a deep breath, a chance to recharge and reset. But here I am, fresh off a trip to Big Bear—surrounded by towering trees, crisp mountain air, and the soothing sounds of nature—yet still feeling more drained than refreshed. Wasn’t this supposed to be my moment to pause? To disconnect? Instead, it felt like work—like I was forcing myself to rest, rather than actually resting.
Maybe my body isn’t ready for full-on go-mode just yet, but my mind is racing ahead, restless and uneasy. Every moment I slow down feels like a moment wasted. The drive to do more, be more, achieve more—it doesn’t just disappear when I step away. If anything, the stillness amplifies the doubt. Am I truly giving myself the space to decompress, or am I just pretending to?
The Uncomfortable Reality of Rest
For those of us wired for productivity, rest doesn’t always come naturally. We crave movement, thrive under pressure, and find satisfaction in progress. Slowing down, even when we need it, can feel uncomfortable—like an itch we can’t quite scratch.
It’s easy to mistake stillness for stagnation. To feel guilty when we’re not checking off boxes or pushing toward the next big goal. But what if rest isn’t the opposite of progress? What if it’s a necessary part of it?
Listening to the Signs—Even When You Don’t Want To
My body is telling me to slow down. The exhaustion, the lack of true disconnection, the creeping doubt—these aren’t just passing feelings. They’re signals. And as much as I want to override them and push forward, I’m beginning to realize that doing so would only set me up for a harder crash later.
Being in Big Bear should have been the perfect escape. Away from the city noise, immersed in the hum of the forest, with only the rustling leaves and the distant call of birds to break the silence. Yet, even in nature, I couldn’t shake the restlessness. The peace around me contrasted sharply with the chaos in my mind. It was a reminder that true rest isn’t just about changing your environment—it’s about allowing yourself to fully embrace the pause.
Maybe the key isn’t in choosing between go-mode and pause-mode but in learning to exist somewhere in between. To allow rest without resistance. To trust that stepping back won’t erase my momentum—it’ll sustain it.
Redefining What It Means to Pause
Instead of seeing rest as a forced break from progress, what if we reframed it as part of the process? Here’s how I’m trying to shift my mindset:
Rest With Intention: Instead of treating rest as an afterthought, I’m working on making it purposeful. Choosing activities that genuinely recharge me rather than ones that just feel like another task to complete.
Detach Without Guilt: A break isn’t a loss—it’s an investment. I’m reminding myself that downtime isn’t wasted time; it’s fuel for what comes next.
Embrace the Discomfort: Slowing down feels foreign, and that’s okay. Growth often comes from the moments we resist the most.
Moving Forward—At My Own Pace
I don’t have all the answers yet. I still feel the pull of overdrive, the urge to keep moving even when my body is begging for pause. But I’m learning that rest isn’t a detour—it’s part of the road. And if I really want to go the distance, I need to respect that.
So here’s to slowing down, even when it feels unnatural. To pausing, even when it feels like falling behind. To trusting that the work will still be there when we’re ready—but we’ll be stronger, clearer, and more prepared to take it on.
If you’ve been feeling this push and pull, know you’re not alone. Let’s learn to rest, not just because we have to, but because we deserve to.
Here are a few photos from our recent Big Bear trip to reflect on. Perhaps it’ll force me to go back to that place (mentally) and really appreciate the time away.
‘Til the next one,
