Rest Is Liberation: 6 Intentional Ways to Reclaim Your Time and Energy

We weren’t made to grind ourselves into the ground. We were made to live. To breathe. To take up space without constantly trying to earn it.
But let’s be real: many of us were raised to believe that rest comes last—after the inbox is empty, the dishes are done, the goals are hit, and the hustle is over. Spoiler alert: it never really is.

If you're an ex–girl boss, a recovering team-no-sleep member, or someone who’s finally learning to slow down without the shame, this post is your soft, sacred permission slip to rest—on purpose.

Why Rest Is a Radical Act

For generations, we’ve been taught that productivity equals worth. Especially in Black communities, the old saying rings loud: “You have to work twice as hard to get half as far.”
It’s a mindset rooted in survival. But it also leads to burnout, chronic stress, and a deep disconnect from our bodies and needs.

Rest is resistance. It’s reclamation. It’s how we push back against grind culture and create space to be—not just do.

If you’re ready to reclaim your time, here are six soul-nourishing ways to use your PTO, protect your peace, and return to yourself.

1. Book a Luxury Staycation

You don’t need a passport or TSA line to rest like a queen.
Find a boutique hotel or cozy Airbnb in your own city. Bring your softest robe, your “just for vibes” skincare, and a book you probably won’t finish. Order room service, take a long bath, and do nothing without guilt. This is about romanticizing stillness—not spending hours in transit.

2. Take a Planned Hooky Day

Not sick—just spiritually unavailable.
Pick a random Tuesday. Call off work. Go to your favorite coffee shop, visit a museum, or take a long walk with no destination. Unplug. Don’t explain. Let joy guide your schedule. It’s midweek magic with no to-do list.

3. Give Yourself a Mini Sabbatical

This isn’t about a vacation—it’s about reclamation.
Block off a full week of PTO with zero expectations. No deep cleaning. No catching up. Just be with yourself. Move slowly. Journal. Cry. Nap. Dance in your kitchen. Let your nervous system exhale and experience what rest actually feels like in your body.

4. Create a “Favorite’s Day”

Think of it like a birthday... but with no obligations and no cake you have to share.
Wear your favorite outfit. Eat your favorite food. Watch that comfort movie for the 20th time. Whether you invite your closest people or go full solo, the only rule is this: everything you do must make you smile.

5. Practice Holiday Stacking

Don’t let the system shrink your rest.
Take a PTO day before and after a holiday weekend to create more breathing room. A 3-day weekend is cute. A 5-day exhale? Revolutionary. You deserve time to rest, not rush.

6. Commit to Work-Free Vacations

This one's simple but radical: log all the way off.
No laptop. No “just checking in.” No Slack lurking from the poolside. Set the out-of-office reply and mean it. You're not available because you're not supposed to be. Your worth isn't tied to your accessibility.

Final Word: You Don’t Have to Earn Your Exhale

Let this post be your reminder: you are not here to be constantly available, endlessly productive, or perfectly efficient.

You are allowed to be well. You are allowed to rest. You are allowed to reclaim your time, your energy, your joy.

Because rest isn’t weakness.
It’s wisdom.
And baby—you’ve earned it just by existing.