
← Making Shift Happen14 aug · 20 min
268. How to Actually Relax Without Feeling Guilty
Do you feel guilty when you slow down? If your brain immediately starts making a to-do list the second you sit down to relax, you’re definitely not alone. For many busy, high-achieving people, relaxing can feel strangely uncomfortable especially when you’ve spent years equating productivity with your self worth.
In this episode of Making Shift Happen, we talk about why it’s so hard to shut off your brain, how productivity guilt can keep your nervous system stuck in “go mode,” and how to practice genuine rest without turning relaxation into yet another thing to “optimize.” You’ll learn simple ways to transition out of work-work-work mode, create intentional downtime, and give yourself permission to rest before you’re completely exhausted or burned out.
You don’t have to finish everything before you’re allowed to rest – you’re a human being, not a human doing or productivity machine. 😉
🎧 In this episode we talk about:
Why relaxing can feel uncomfortable… or even guilt-inducing
The difference between stopping and actually recovering
How to break the productivity-guilt cycle
Simple ways to shift your nervous system out of “go mode”
Why rest does NOT need to be optimized
A simple 10-minute intentional rest practice you can try today!
Curious if your rest isn’t adding up enough for you? Take the FREE Nervous System Audit here (it’s only 10 questions!): https://forms.gle/hGtZY7P8X5sAtQe26. Learn the signs and how to help yourself – I’m also here to help!
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