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Why You Feel Guilty for Resting, According to Psychology

Experts say rest can feel wrong when your self-worth is tied to productivity, but recovery is not something you need to earn.

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One of the most frustrating lies my brain tells me is that I must earn my rest. No matter what time of day it is, no matter how burned out I am, if I’m not as productive as I believe I should be, I feel guilty for resting. In my mind, there’s always something more efficient I could be doing, like chores, workouts, socializing, or extra work.

Unfortunately, this is a common pattern that many of us face in today’s world. It’s no wonder so many of us have autoimmune diseases, mental health issues, and chronic conditions…

Why Do We Feel Guilty for Resting?

If you feel guilty for resting, odds are, you place too much importance on your productivity.

According to Bobby Hoffman, Ph.D., author of Hack Your Motivation, in his Psychology Today article on the topic, “The primary obstacle is the reality that some........

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