The Rest Epidemic: Are You Resting Wrong?
Not all rest is restful. Learn the difference between real rest and artificial rest inside.
Are you really resting?
We may be living in a “rest era,” but are we truly resting? Or are we just “fake” resting?
I often think of modern rest culture as similar to Chapstick dependency.
If you’re unfamiliar with chapstick dependency, it’s the idea that frequent use can actually make your lips feel drier, creating a cycle where you need more chapstick, and the cycle repeats, creating a form of dependency.
You don’t necessarily choose it, but the dependency stems from a need.
Modern rest culture feels similar. Many of us have become dependent on “rest” just to get through the day because the forms of rest we rely on aren’t actually restful. And there’s a big difference between resting and feeling rested.
Let’s return to the chapstick analogy: the more you “rest,” the more rest you need because, like chapstick that doesn’t moisturize your lips, your rest isn’t restorative.
The cycle looks like this:
You feel tired, so you “rest.”
That rest isn’t truly restful, so you quickly feel tired again.
You seek more rest, which still doesn’t energize you.
It’s like trying to hydrate with coffee—delicious but counterproductive.
This creates a never-ending cycle of fatigue. If you’ve experienced it, you know how exhausting it is (pun intended).
We’re currently living in an epidemic of fatigue. This isn’t just about feeling tired—it’s a serious health issue. Chronic low energy lowers motivation, reduces quality of life, and contributes to health problems.
But here’s the thing: your exhaustion might not be what you think.
Last week, I talked about how an imbalance between physical and mental energy can create a “bored body,” with movement being the antidote.
This week, I want to focus on another cause: the rest you’re engaging in might not be real rest—it could be artificial rest (a.k.a. fake rest).
On this week’s podcast, I unpack the difference between real rest and fake rest—and why feeling tired can be healthy, but exhaustion isn’t.
The Problem with Fake Rest
If you’re stuck in this cycle or relying on rest, it’s not your fault. You don’t know what you don’t know. But when you understand the difference between fake and real rest, you can start making changes to feel genuinely restored.
Fake rest is like caffeine—it might give you the feeling of rest in the moment, but it leaves you depleted in the long run. How you feel afterward is the key to discerning if it’s real or fake.
Unfortunately, real rest can feel unfamiliar.
Why Real Rest Feels Unfamiliar
Real rest often involves silence—more than just stillness. And silence is something we rarely experience in modern life.
Our modern lives are rarely silent, including the numerous forms of rest we attempt to call rest but aren’t restful because they’re full of noise.
Social media, podcasts, books, and conversations—all these things require energy to process. So while you think you’re relaxing, your brain is still working overtime.
Rest without silence is like digestion without breaks: your body and mind need time and space to process everything they’ve taken in.
What Real Rest Looks Like:
Real rest doesn’t have to mean doing nothing, but it does require space and silence.
Take walking, for example. Walking is one of life’s great rebalancers. It’s both work and rest, which is why it’s essential.
But to transition walking from work to rest, try eliminating the noise. Ditch the earbuds and walk without distractions. No playlists, no podcasts—just you and your thoughts.
At first, silence might feel uncomfortable. But over time, it can become incredibly restorative. You’d be surprised how refreshed and energized you can feel from just a few moments of quiet.
You’d be amazed at how refreshed you feel after just a few moments of quiet, and how much your creativity starts to flow once the noise dies down.
Enter: The Living Well Walking Club
This is exactly why I created The Living Well Walking Club. It’s a balance of work and rest—a way to challenge your body and recharge.
Walking is both work and rest.
This summer, we’ll dive deeper into the power of walking as both work and rest. But for now, try it for yourself:
When you feel the afternoon slump creeping in, resist the urge to grab a snack or scroll on your phone.
Slip on your shoes, step outside, and take a short, silent walk.
No music, no distractions—just you.
It might feel strange at first, even uncomfortable. But if you sit in it, you’ll quickly realize how much creativity is cultivated in the space.
Remember, the next time you’re feeling tired and fake rest is tempting—be it a mindless scroll or a third cup of coffee—try something different. Step outside, find some silence, and let yourself actually rest.
The point of rest is to fill you with energy.
