The Dilemma Around Rest

To rest or not to rest?

The dilemma, of course, is entirely our own — and yet, it’s very real.

1. “Rest is addictive.”

Yes. It can feel that way. Once you start resting, you don’t want to come out of it. You want to stay in that space. After all — who really wants to get back to work?

And that’s what we’re afraid of: “What if I get stuck here? What if I never want to work again?”

Let’s be clear — that’s not rest. That’s aalasya. That’s inertia. Often, we become lazy because we didn’t rest enough when we needed to. We push ourselves into burnout… and then collapse into a fog of tiredness.

True rest doesn’t make you lazy. It restores you.

When you’re aligned with your purpose and your personal goals are clear, rest doesn’t trap you — it fuels you.

Think of your phone when it’s fully charged. Or a car that’s just been refueled. Do they slow down? Or perform better?

The key is balance: When you work — work fully, with focus. Work so deeply that by the end of the day, you want to crash into bed.

And when you rest — really rest. Switch off the mental tabs. Let go. Recover.

2. “When should I rest? And how much is enough?”

A valid question — especially in a world that runs on 24x7 connectivity.

A good starting point? Roughly 10–12 hours of meaningful work, and 10–12 hours of recovery — including sleep, stillness, movement, family time, nature, and unstructured leisure.

You can also rest during the day. Listening to music while commuting. Catching up with a friend on a hands-free call. Taking 5 minutes of deep breath between meetings.

Look for activities that relax your mind while letting the body move. Or relax your body while allowing the mind to slow down.

Once you build this rhythm, you’ll start noticing the difference: You’re clearer. More alert. Less reactive. You’ll stop dragging yourself through the day — and start showing up fully.

Of course, this takes time. But like all good habits — it begins with a single decision.

Start now.

#ShaliniKamboj #RestWisely #BalanceIsPower #InnerWork #AalasyaVsRest #Sthir #SelfAwareness #RestWithoutGuilt #ConsciousLiving