Somewhere along the way, we started wearing burnout like it’s a badge of honor.

Letting someone know that we’re busy feels validating.

Busyness feels like progress.

Take parenting for example. It’s very easy to sign yourself up for everything you think you’re “supposed” to be doing, because saying no to the cultural norms feels like rejection.

Maybe that’s why a survey found that 60% of parents feel overwhelmed by the mental load of parenting.

I think most of that is self-inflicted…being unwilling to sit in the emptiness of boredom.

Busy has become our baseline. And without it, we feel unproductive and unimportant.

Doing things you deem productive can cause your brain to release dopamine. Which is potentially part of the reason busyness feels like a drug.

It can be addicting, but overwhelm isn’t a sign of importance. It’s a sign that something needs to change.

A burned-out person is an ineffective person.

You can’t pour out if you’re empty. And you can’t fake being present for long.

Rest isn’t indulgent. Rest is essential.

One study found that regular leisure activities like quiet time, time in nature, hobbies, even just unwinding are linked to lower stress, lower blood pressure, better health, and better mood.

This isn’t just about having a hobby or taking a vacation. It’s about fostering a lifestyle that includes being comfortable with boredom.

But most of us ignore the invitation. We call it lazy or selfish or just plain impossible.

But what if your health and peace was part of the job?

What if letting go is what helps you show up better?