One of the questions I hear most often from high-achieving women is this:
“Am I being lazy… or do I actually need to rest?”
From the outside, the two can look similar. But internally, they’re very different experiences.
Laziness is usually avoidance.
Something feels uncomfortable, overwhelming, or uncertain—so we delay, distract, or disengage.
Rest, on the other hand, is intentional.
It’s the pause that allows you to reset your mind, reconnect with yourself, and return with clarity and energy.
The challenge is that many of us were taught that rest has to be earned.
So when we slow down, our brain immediately starts questioning it.
Shouldn’t I be doing something right now?
Am I falling behind?
Is this just laziness?
But the truth is, when you’re constantly in go-mode, you lose the ability to recognize what your mind and body actually need.
The goal isn’t to hustle endlessly.
It’s to learn how to work with intention, rest with intention, and create a rhythm that actually supports the life you’re building.
Listen to the full conversation on the From Pissed Off to Poised podcast. 🎧 https://thoughtworkmd.com/chat/
