Rest Is a Sacred Gift, Not a Privilege

Raise your hand if you have ever felt guilty for taking a break. 

I am willing to bet that if I asked this question to a room of 100 people who were free to answer honestly, every hand would go up. 

Now, ask yourself this: why do you feel guilty for resting? 

Did a burning bush speak to you while an invisible finger carved “thou shalt not rest” into stone? 

I’m willing to bet your rationale was far less divine. 

I’m willing to bet it had more to do with your lived reality. 

Why People Feel Guilty for Resting

Saying, “It had more to do with the cost of maintaining your lifestyle” might be truthful. It’s also an unfair description.

The phrase “maintaining your lifestyle” implies you were so concerned about keeping your weekly pedicure appointment and country club membership that you neglected a very real, proven human health need out of vanity. 

In reality, “maintaining your lifestyle” is more reflective of going without needed rest because society keeps progressing (though the word “progress” itself is debatable, we won’t go into that here).  In doing so, it continually creates new and increasing demands you must meet just to cover the basics of food, shelter, and, if you have them, a decent upbringing for your kids. 

Your car needs a pricey repair. Your landlord raises rent—again. Your kid’s “Suggested Back-to-School Supply List” is longer than a CVS receipt. Heck, you have health needs that require a special diet to manage amid rising grocery prices. God forbid you develop worsening health challenges, especially ones your doctor can’t figure out right away. 

The sad reality is, even if you try your hardest, even if you obey all the rules, the unexpected can still ransack you. Disaster can affect any one of us, regardless of how smart, strong, or capable we may consider ourselves. 

However, you won’t hear many admit this uncomfortable truth. 

What you will hear, should you dare complain aloud, are a lot of suggestions that your problems are all your own fault. That if only you had done such-and-such, you wouldn’t be struggling. 

So what do you do? You learn not to complain. Instead, you absorb others’ negative view of yourself and try harder. You internalize the idea that everything is your fault, and you push yourself to the point of exhaustion. After all, accepting that your problems are your fault means you can fix them. The alternative—that sometimes bad things happen to good people through no fault of their own, just sheer, lousy luck—is a far more frightening reality to accept.

The problem is, you’re human. 

Human beings are not machines. We’re not “put a coin in, get production out.” We have actual, biological needs designed by nature to guide us on the path of wellness, so that we can more fully participate in this magnificent gift of life. 

Rest is one such biological imperative. Failing to honor it has consequences. 

However, it is also a sacred gift. Adequate rest makes you your productive best, true, but it’s also a prerequisite for fully immersing yourself into this magical, mysterious blessing known as life.

The Exorbitant Cost of Denying Your Body and Mind the Rest They Need

I’m living proof of what happens when you ignore your body’s need for rest. 

I’m 54. And I’m fully disabled. Which not only isn’t fun, but which frustrates me daily in a million ways I won’t describe here in the interest of brevity. Suffice it to say, I want the ability to manage my own responsibilities, give back a little extra if possible, and engage in human life.  I just want work that doesn’t break me further. Body, mind, or spirit. 

For so many years, I tried to do it all. Working multiple jobs. Earning multiple degrees. Trying everything I could. At first, yes, it was motivated by a desire to do well, but soon, it became a fight to survive at all. 

The harder I pushed myself, the poorer I got. 

The harder I pushed myself, the sicker I got. 

Money was far from the most important thing I lost, even though my lack of it resulted in significant trauma. 

What hurts most, though, are all the relationships I lost along the way. 

While it’s true I could never convince anyone else I was with, until now, of the reality of my health needs, their optimism (“you can overcome anything”) didn’t help any more than my surly retorts. 

Their insinuations that my conditions were all in my head were actively hurtful. 

They made me hate myself. Worse, they made me feel guilty simply for taking the actions I needed to take to get well. 

While I eventually left the most toxic situations, every time I did, it cost me enormously. It ruined me financially, leaving me destitute. 

Worse, though, was the emotional toll and the immense guilt from a trail of broken relationships. While some partings were my fault, too, they still stung. And, in the end, I was left alone to manage my conditions on my own, anyway. 

I nearly died. 

Reclaiming Our Right to Sacred Rest 

That’s why I get furious today at the slightest insinuation of laziness. For one, there’s nothing inherently wrong with remaining idle. Heck, given the state all this busy-ness has led our world into, in my eyes, being lazy might be among the best things you can be. Humans are messy, but naps don’t contribute to climate change. 

Furthermore, there’s ample evidence that adequate rest actually supercharges your productivity. It really is about working smarter, not harder. 

When the Europeans came to Hawai’i, they were amazed at how little the inhabitants already there worked. Guess what? They called these indigenous residents “lazy” because they only saw how long they worked, not how efficiently. 

In doing so, they ruined the Natives’ perfectly healthy, balanced way of life. 

The native inhabitants of Hawai’i weren’t lazy at all. They were simply organized and productive enough to get all their work done in the morning, allowing them to devote the remainder of their day to family and necessary, healing, rest and relaxation. 

But here’s the real kicker—their habit of taking necessary rest was precisely what fueled the native Hawaiians’ incredible productivity. Turns out, when your body and mind are in balance, it’s a lot easier to perform active work efficiently and energetically. 

Isn’t that amazing? It’s all in the balance, Daniel-san.

Giving adequate time and attention to rest can make you more productive. 

However, ignoring your need for rest can lead to disaster that may not only cost money. Much like with me, the costs associated with inadequate rest can hinder your ability to produce much at all in the future. Consider these studies and statistics:



• According to a 2022 meta-analysis [1], sleep deprivation adversely impacts your postural control. That’s your ability to maintain your balance and coordination and maintain proper alignment when performing physical movements. When you bend, squat, and lift with bad form, you become prone to repetitive motion injuries, a major cause of early disability. Plus, bad balance can cause falls. 
• And falls due to insomnia can also be costly. Way back in 2016, a full decade ago, insomnia cost the U.S. economy $174.9 billion dollars [2]. That’s even greater than the estimated annual cost of climate change to our nation’s budget [3]. Hmm. Maybe if we just eliminate the need for a few commutes and let people rest more, we could hit several targets with a single stone…just a thought.
• I’m not the only one who thinks that way, however. A 2024 statement from Dr. Juliet Schor, Professor of Sociology at Boston College, asserts that a 32-hour work week with no loss in pay could significantly contribute not only to insomnia-driven accidents but also to other pricey health woes our society faces [4]. 

The evidence certainly seems to point in favor of resting more and stressing ourselves out less having significant societal benefits. Conversely, pushing too far, too fast, is a recipe for burnout or worse. 

However, none of us alone can change the society we live in. 

What we can do, though, is exercise our right to establish our own healthy boundaries, including safeguarding our very valid, biologically driven need for rest and relaxation. 

We can say no to hustle culture.

We can recognize rest and relaxation as biological imperatives.

We can refuse to see rest as a privilege. We can start treating it as the gift that it is, which is the opportunity for optimal health, so we can fully immerse ourselves in our daily activities. 

We can learn that the best things in life come not from lofty achievements, but from the other living souls with whom we spend our precious, limited moments. 

Yes, we can work to make things better. But not at the cost of our health and that of those around us. We can learn balance. 

Plus, who knows? Perhaps, just perhaps, when everyone is rested and balanced, the world will finally know peace. One can hope. 

While we hope, we can take charge of our own right to sacred rest by setting limits on how we choose to spend our energy. It’s a part of our mission here at Only in Sedona Yoga to invite you to share in our celebration of deep relaxation each and every Saturday night at 8 PM EST. 

Here’s to a more relaxing and restful future for you and every weary soul. 

References:

[1] Izadi, Mohammad, et al. “The effect of time-of-day and sleep deprivation on postural control: A systemic review. National Institutes of Health. 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2026, from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35917703/ 

[2] Francis-Xavier Chalet, et. al. “Economic Burden of Transport Injuries and Falls at Home and in Public Places Due to Untreated Insomnia in the United States, Estimated by the Population Attributable Fraction Method.” Virtual Conference ISPOR, Europe, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2026,  from: https://www.ispor.org/docs/default-source/euro2021/economic-burden-of-accidents-and-falls-due-to-untreated-insomnia-us-pdf.pdf 

[3] Buchwald, Elisabeth. “Climate Change Is Costing the US $150 Billion a Year: Here’s What That Looks Like.” CNN. November 30, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2026, from: https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/30/economy/what-150-billion-climate-change-damage-looks-like/index.html

[4] “Statement by Juliet Schor, Professor of Sociology, Boston College, before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, for a Hearing. “Workers Should Benefit From New Technology and Increased Productivity: The Need for a 32-Hour Work Week With No Loss in Pay.” March 14, 2024. Retrieved November 11, 2026, from: https://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/fe56f2c1-e4ed-ae6c-12a1-570c703651b9/Dr.%20Schor%20HELP%20Testimony%203-14-24.pdf