41. Solo - When Rest Feels Like a Risk: Overcoming the Guilt of Doing "Nothing"

Have you ever sat down to rest, only to find your brain spinning with a mile-long to-do list and a heavy dose of guilt? You aren’t alone. In this episode, Ellen dives deep into the "insidious inability to rest" and why our brains view healthy changes—like setting boundaries or recovering from surgery—as a threat to our comfort zones. Even as a coach who teaches burnout prevention, Ellen reveals her recent struggle with the "itch" of productivity and why choosing yourself can often feel countercultural.It’s time to unlearn the belief that rest is a reward you have to earn. Ellen shares a practical, three-step process to navigate uncomfortable feelings: naming the emotion, locating it in the body, and using Susan David’s "what the func?" method to understand what your brain is trying to tell you. Whether you’re recovering from a setback or just trying to survive a Tuesday without a meltdown, this episode offers a compassionate roadmap for unravelling yourself from toxic productivity—one color-by-number page at a time.Key Takeaways & Links:The Science of Naming: Why labeling your emotions makes them easier to manage.What the func?: Understanding the function and purpose behind your emotions.Practical Mindfulness: How simple acts (like coloring) can quiet a spinning mind.Show Notes: Tricia Hersey's Rest is Resistance and The Nap MinistryTricia Hersey's Rest DeckListen to Episode 13 of Hard at Work, "When Rest Feels Wrong"Susan David's book Emotional Agility (creator of "what the func?")