Somewhere along the way, we were taught that rest is lazy. That it has to be earned. That if you’re not constantly doing more, you’re falling behind.

But here’s the truth that I’d like to challenge you with today: rest isn’t laziness, and it’s not a reward. It’s actually a leadership strategy.

And I’m not talking about laying on the couch scrolling your phone. I’m talking about creating space, regulating your nervous system, and showing up with clarity and creativity…instead of exhaustion and resentment.

Because if you’ve been conditioned by hustle culture to believe that rest makes you weak, it’s time to unlearn that story.

The Lies We’ve Been Told About Rest

Hustle culture and “boss babe” narratives have sold us a lie: that burnout is the price of success. That the best leaders are the ones who grind the hardest, stay the latest, and answer emails at all hours.

But here’s what actually happens when you lead from burnout instead of rest:

• You become irritable and reactive.
• Your creativity dries up.
• You work just to get things done instead of working from inspiration.

I know, because I’ve been there. As a Manifestor in Human Design, when I’m out of alignment and forcing myself to push through, everything feels heavy. But when I honor my rhythms and lead from a place of rest, I get more done in a few hours of flow than in a week of forcing.

That’s the power of rest! It completely changes how you lead and show up in your business.

What Rest Actually Looks Like

Rest isn’t just sleep or taking a vacation. True rest is active. It’s spacious. It’s what allows you to access joy, safety, and creativity again.

I saw an Instagram post recently that summed it up perfectly…

We think recovering from burnout simply means getting more “rest.”

But what it actually looks like is:

• Rest.
• Rediscovering what fuels you (joy, safety, creativity).
• Learning about your nervous system.
• Incorporating somatic tools into your daily rhythms.
• Honoring sensitivity instead of overriding it.
• Unlearning people-pleasing, perfectionism, and performance.

That is the kind of rest that has the potential to transform your business.

How I Lead from Rest

Here’s what this looks like in my own business:

CEO Days

Space to step out of client work and into my vision. It’s when I think clearly, dream bigger, and make decisions with intention.

Boundaries & Office Hours

I’m not available 24/7. Protecting my energy means I can actually show up better when I am “on.”

Cycle Syncing 

I align my work with my natural rhythms so I’m not forcing myself to be the same every day.

Daily Self-Care

Movement, nourishing food, nervous system support, prayer, time outside. These aren’t extras—they’re how I stay regulated.

Joy & Creativity

Making time to create for the sake of creating, not because it’s productive or profitable.

Unplugging from the Noise

Stepping away from social media when it starts to feel loud, so I can come back grounded.

This is what allows me to lead from rest, not from a constant state of fight-or-flight.

Why Rest Makes You a Better Leader

Without rest, leadership looks like constant reactivity, decision fatigue, and burnout. With rest, leadership looks like clarity, inspiration, and sustainable energy.

Rest isn’t passive, it’s active. It’s the foundation for creativity, intuition in business, and the kind of leadership that actually lasts.

And maybe most importantly: rest isn’t something you earn. It’s something you practice, daily.

An Invitation to Experiment

If rest feels out of reach, start small. Step away from your desk for 15 minutes. Take a walk outside without your phone. Pause before answering that email. Notice how your body feels before you make a big decision.

Rest isn’t the opposite of work. It’s what makes your work sustainable.

When you lead from a place of rest, you lead from clarity, creativity, and alignment. And that’s where real success lives.

Ready to create a business that gives you the space to lead from rest—not burnout? That’s exactly what I help founders do inside my Vision-to-Execution Accelerator and Intensives.