Rest Without Guilt: Why Pausing Is Productive (and How to Start in 7 Minutes)

Opening

If your default is to push through, rest can feel like a luxury you haven’t earned. But exhaustion isn’t a badge of honor; it’s a signal. As Linda often teaches, your energy is the foundation of everything else—relationships, work, decisions, and health. When you treat rest as a strategic deposit rather than a reward, your day becomes lighter and your outcomes improve.

Why guilt shows up

• Internalized “shoulds.” High standards + sensitivity = chronic self-pressure.

• Comparison. Other people’s pace isn’t your blueprint.

• Fear of falling behind. Ironically, recovery time accelerates real progress.

These themes echo ideas Linda shares in The Energetic Edge (see Books page) and her Energy & Health guide.

The 7-Minute Rest Reset

1. Arrive (2 min): Sit with feet flat. Inhale 4, exhale 6 for 8 rounds. Shoulders drop; jaw softens.

2. Tell the truth (3 min): On paper, finish: “Today, my energy is…” and “What I need most is…”. Let it be simple.

3. Deposit (2 min): Choose one: step outside for 60–90 seconds; close eyes hand-over-heart; clear two small items from your visual field. Notice the shift.

Boundary language that feels kind

• “I can give this my full attention tomorrow morning.”

• “I’m available for 15 minutes now, or we can book a longer time later.”

• “Let’s keep this simple today.”

If boundaries are hard at work, DM “BOUNDARY” for Linda’s short PDF Dealing with Difficult People at Work.

Design your space to support rest (micro but mighty)

• Soften stimulation: reduce visual noise; one clean surface = instant exhale.

• Invite nature: crack a window, add a plant, or move your chair to the light.

• Anchor cue: keep a smooth stone or sticky note that simply says “Breathe.”

These align with Linda’s Feng Shui/environment principles (also see EnergyTipsNewHome.pdf).

Rest isn’t time off from your life—it’s what lets you show up fully in it. If you’d like a personalized snapshot of where you need more deposits and fewer withdrawals, take the Personal Energy Assessment. Linda will personally review your responses and send reflections + next steps.

→ Personal Energy Assessment: https://forms.gle/ojh5R93AQz6G9pGg7

Resources mentioned: Books page (The Energetic Edge): https://lindabinns.com/books

Energy & Health (DM “HEALTH”), Dealing with Difficult People at Work (DM “BOUNDARY”).