Rest Is Not a Reward—It’s the Work Too

Let’s get one thing straight: rest isn’t what you earn after working hard—it’s part of the work.

In a culture that glorifies hustle, it’s easy to treat rest like a guilty pleasure. But if you’re always pushing without pausing, you’re not building strength—you’re breaking down.

Here’s the deal...

• Muscles grow in recovery, not during the workout. Otherwise you would be able to see your results immediately (wouldn't that be cool?!)

• Nervous systems regulate in rest, not in overdrive. That surge of adrenalin or dopamine doens't go away immediately which is why you can continue to shake after an accident, for instance, long after it's over.

• Longevity comes from sustainability—not exhaustion. If you are completely exhausted every time you do something your body will have to spend more energy healing than improving.

  
  

So no, rest days aren’t “lazy.” They’re strategic. They’re what allow your body to rebuild, recalibrate, and come back stronger. The work doesn’t count without the recovery.

Give yourself permission to pause. It’s not stepping back—it’s fueling your next step forward.