Rest & Regulation: Giving Ourselves Permission to Slow Down

Welcome! This month, we're examining something many of us struggle with—especially as summer invites us to slow down: Rest & Regulation.

While the world around us buzzes with “summer productivity” and packed schedules, our nervous systems often crave the opposite.

And yet, many of us feel guilty when we're not doing, achieving, or moving toward the next goal. This isn’t surprising—we live in a culture that equates busyness with worth and rest with laziness.

But here's the thing: rest doesn't have to mean doing nothing. It might look different for each of us: a quiet walk, sitting outside, creative hobbies, or simply stepping away from work. Whatever it looks like for you—rest is essential.

🌀 Recognizing Your Rest Resistance

Reflect for a moment:

• When I think about resting, what happens in my body? Do I feel anxious, guilty, or restless?

• What stories do I tell myself about what I should be doing instead?

• What messages did I receive growing up about rest? How were they connected to my worth, acceptance, or productivity?

🔍 When Rest Feels Foreign

For those of us who learned early that our worth was tied to productivity, rest can feel uncomfortable—even unsafe.

Our bodies might carry the belief that slowing down means letting people down, falling behind, or losing control.

You might notice this in subtle ways:

• The guilt that creeps in during a quiet afternoon

• The urge to fill every moment with activity

• The way your body tenses when you try to truly relax

These responses aren't character flaws—they’re protective patterns that once kept us safe or accepted.

Here’s something I often tell my clients:

Rest is productive. It's how our nervous system processes, integrates, and heals.

When we chronically override our need for restoration, our bodies get stuck in survival mode—making it harder to feel safe, connected, and present.

🌞 Summer as Teacher

When we've been running on stress and adrenaline, our capacity for rest becomes impaired. We’re either wired but tired, or we crash so hard that rest feels more like collapse than restoration.

But summer offers us a different rhythm—longer days that soften into evening, naturally inviting us to move more slowly, to be rather than do.

What if we allowed this seasonal wisdom to shape how we care for ourselves?

“Rest is not earned through exhaustion—it’s the birthright of every nervous system.”

💬 A Gentle Invitation

I know learning to rest isn't always easy—sometimes it can feel unfamiliar or stir up big emotions. If you'd like to talk through what you're experiencing, I'm here. Whether you're curious about working together or simply want to share your experience with this practice, feel free to reach out.

As always, take what feels right and leave the rest. I’m grateful we’re in this together.

With care,

Lillian