Why Rest Days Feel So Hard: Guilt, Pressure & the Athlete Mindset

Why do rest days feel harder than training? In the first episode of The Rest Day Rundown, I share my journey from college softball to CrossFit and talk about why slowing down once felt like falling behind. We dive into athlete identity, burnout, overtraining, and the constant pressure to always be doing more—both on and off the field.This episode is about the mental side of recovery and learning that rest is part of performance, not a break from it. If you’ve ever felt guilty for taking time off, struggled with balancing sports and life, or tied your self-worth to your performance, this conversation will feel familiar.Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and follow us on Spotify so you never miss an episode. If this episode resonates with you, share it with a teammate or friend and join the conversation in the Spotify comments. You can also connect with us on Instagram @TheRestDayRundown