Called to Rest: Embracing the Challenge of Doing Nothing
Finding peace in the pause.
This post is for those who struggle with resting.
In October, I felt the undeniable urge to rest. The need to pause was creeping up on me. After days of going back and forth in my mind about whether to take on a new project, I realised I was exhausted. To bandage my tiredness, I decided to step away from my desk. After working from home for an entire week, bogged down in tasks, I took a spontaneous drive over an hour away to the mountains.
Being in nature, whether driving to the mountains, the river, or the beach, is one of my sacred spaces—my go-to when life gets overwhelming.
Going to the mountains is not somewhere I visit often, but when I do, it’s like a breath of fresh air, literally and figuratively. This time, I drove to Irish Town in St. Andrew by one of my favourite cafes, Cafe Blue, a place I love for its fresh, crisp air, the chirping birds, and the slower, simpler pace of life. There’s no hustle, bustle, or rush to be anywhere—just quiet serenity.
That day felt like my first intentional pause in a while.
A few weeks before that, I tried switching up my work routine. I decided to work from the park instead of my usual workspace. I brought a blanket, snacks, and my music, fully intending to design and get some work done. But instead, I found myself dosing off between tasks and binge-watching a series.
You could call it not productive, but productive. I didn’t force myself to keep working, though. That was the first sign my body was trying to tell me something. The tiredness was creeping in, and even though I had many things to do, I was starting to hit my limit.
Fast forward to last week, and I found myself asking a simple but loaded question: Why do I feel so busy when I should be slowing down and resting?
Friends even started asking, “So, what does this ‘rest’ you keep talking about actually look like?” I wasn’t sure at the moment, but I kept saying I needed to turn everything off.
It all became clear after I accepted what would be my final client call for the year. Unofficially but officially, I decided: The time to rest is now.
I knew I needed sleep, but my mind also needed something deeper—a reprogramming. I had to untangle myself from the constant tune of work, work, work and teach myself to rest.
Entering a season of rest has been more challenging than I imagined. Slowing down, pausing, and allowing myself to be is surprisingly difficult. You’d think resting would come naturally, but for me, it’s been anything but simple.
What does rest even look like? Is it sleeping more? Doing nothing? Sometimes, I wonder if I even know how to rest. Do you ever feel that way? Like your mind is racing with ideas, or you’ve got a never-ending list of things to do, yet you’re supposed to just stop?
This challenge feels especially hard now that I’m a full-time entrepreneur. How can I rest when there’s so much to prepare for the coming year? Yet deep down, I know I need this pause. It’s in these moments of stillness that I often find strength, clarity, and direction. Slowing down allows me to listen—not just to myself but to God—and gain the perspective I need to move forward.
Reflecting on Rest: Then vs. Now
Back when I worked a 9-to-5 job, rest was simpler. During vacation, I would sign off, unplug, and set boundaries like, “Don’t call or text me.” I even turned off my work devices to avoid the temptation of checking emails or replying to messages. But now? Rest feels elusive. The lines between work and life are blurred, and I often feel like I should be doing something.
Thinking about it, I wonder: Where does this constant need to work come from? Why do I feel like if I’m not working, I’m falling behind or missing out? Reflecting on these questions has led me to a hard truth—this mindset comes from fear. Fear that if I stop, I won’t have enough or I won’t reach my goals. But here’s what I’ve learnt: God provides for me, whether I’m working or resting. I can’t “hustle my way” into His plans for me.
The Struggle to Stop
Stopping completely is the hardest part for me. Even on days when I feel tired and turn off my devices, my brain keeps running. I’ve had nights where I couldn’t sleep because my mind was busy ticking off to-do lists or planning. I’ve realised that rest isn’t just about the physical act of stopping; it’s about allowing my mind to be still—and that’s where I often struggle the most.
Relearning Rest
As I take the next few days and weeks to rest, I’m focusing on relearning what it means to slow down. I want to listen more, write more, and read more. I plan to put away the screens, resist the urge to scroll, and go back to the basics:
Writing in a notebook
Reading a paperback book
Sitting in silence
Reflecting
Enjoying solitude without feeling the need to catch up or be “productive”
Possibly start painting like I have always wanted to do
Go for my usual Saturday morning swim classes
Going to bed early
Enjoying my usual early morning walks
Sleeping in late
Taking afternoon naps
and do nothing without the guilt.
Rest is a practice I’m learning to embrace. It’s also a reminder to trust in God’s provision and timing, knowing that my worth isn’t tied to how much I accomplish.
So, if you’re like me—someone who struggles to rest—I encourage you to try slowing down, even if it feels uncomfortable. Let’s give ourselves permission to pause, breathe, and simply be.
Here’s a playlist I am listening to as I embrace resting in this season.
Here are some books I have added to my list to read about resting, importance of sleep, doing less and living a purposed-drive life:
Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker
The Purpose-Driven Life by Rick Warren
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
The Power of Rest: Why Sleep Alone Is Not Enough by Matthew Edlund
Here are some books I’ve read and highly recommend on creating a balance and the power of sleep, dreams and hearing from God.
Balance: Positioning Yourself to Do All Things Well by Toure Roberts
The Power of Your Dreams: A Guide to Hearing and Understanding How God Speaks While You Sleep by Stephanie Ike
What I will be learning
Restful Art: Creative Exercises to Heal Burnout via Skillshare.
What Does Rest Look Like for You?
I know I’m not alone in this struggle to rest, and I’d love to hear from you. What does rest look like for you? How do you intentionally create space to pause and recharge? Do you find it challenging, too?
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments. Let’s start a conversation about rest—what it means, why it’s hard, and how we can embrace it more fully in our lives.
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