How do you prioritize rest?

I have a confession to make...

Rest sometimes makes me feel guilty.

Even when my body’s screaming for a break, my brain is whispering, “You could be doing more.” Because there’s always more to do.

But here’s the thing I keep learning (over and over again): rest isn’t a reward. It’s a requirement.

Want to crush a tough workout? Nail a client pitch? Be a halfway-decent parent who doesn’t lose it over a DIY slime covered counter and missing shoes? You’re gonna need some rest for that.

Real rest.

The kind you plan for—like an important project that actually needs time, not just good intentions.

Before I became an entrepreneur, I led strategy for a massive event. Quarter-long planning cycle. Late nights. Tight budgets. Constant pivots. All-consuming.

It was a wild success with glowing feedback from attendees with comments like “the best event he’d attended in 20 years.” And I was proud of that. Still am.

But I also realized something:

I worked too hard to keep working for someone else.

That event cracked something open in me. Not just the hustle, but how unsustainable it felt. I knew there’d still be hard work ahead—but I wanted it to be on my terms.

Fast forward to today, and guess what? I still struggle to rest.

The guilt doesn’t disappear just because your business card says “Owner.” But here’s what I’m learning: the best ideas, the sharpest thinking, the most meaningful connections? They come when I’m rested.

So, I’m working on treating rest like the power move it is. And adding in some pampering knowing I not only can but should.

Because what’s the point of building a life you love if you’re too burned out to enjoy it?

Whether you’re leading a team or building a dream—how are you prioritizing rest right now?

Subscribe to the Grit Fueled weekly newsletter for more tips like this. You’ll be the first to know about special offers and simple strategies to make your marketing work harder.