Rest is Resistance
Your body is a site of liberation.
It doesn’t belong to capitalism.
Love your body.
Rest your body.
Move your body.
Hold your body.
By Tricia Hersey
Over the Christmas period, I reflected on rest. Why is it so hard in our culture? And why does it only feel permissible once Christmas is over, in those sweet few days when nothing is expected of us? It’s as if there’s a moment of collective permission to stop. Experiences like this remind me how deeply social norms shape us: however much we long to rest, it’s hard to do so while enmeshed in a system that prioritises efficiency and productivity over personal and social wellbeing. Stepping outside that logic to truly take time out can feel alienating, steeped in guilt, and sometimes impossible given the everyday life pressures and commitments.
Tricia Hersey, founder of the Nap Ministry, writes in her profound homage to rest, “I believe our entire culture is sleep deprived and exhausted…Grind culture is a collaboration between white supremacy and capitalism. It views our divine bodies as machines. Our worth is not connected to how much we produce”. In this vein, she goes on to show how rest is not only essential to our wellbeing, creativity and spirit, but is a direct act of resistance to the dominant paradigm. A reclaiming of what has been taken, especially for people of colour. A waking up to our true nature which is denied under the capitalist system.
It makes me think that rest becomes possible not only when we choose it individually, but when we practice it collectively. When we normalise slowing down and stop glorifying exhaustion. Collective rest is about creating cultures - in our homes, workplaces, communities - where pausing is not seen as failure, but as wisdom. Where we recognise that inspired action goes hand in hand with rest and nourishment. Where tending to our bodies and spirits is understood as an essential part of life, not a luxury we can only afford at the end of our to-do list. When we choose rest, we’re not opting out. We’re opting into a more humane way of being - for ourselves and our communities. Rest, in this sense, becomes a quiet rebellion.
A rest practice
There are so many ways to rest and it doesn’t have to mean lying down napping. Claudia Hammond (another rest expert!) defines rest as any awake activity that helps you relax, refresh, and restore, making you feel better afterward. Here are some suggestions from Tricia Hersey’s book: Rest is Resistance. Take your pick and join the rest rebellion!
Close your eyes for 10 minutes.
Take a longer shower in silence.
Meditate on the couch for 20 minutes.
Take regular breaks from social media.
Sip hot tea in bed.
Listen deeply to your favourite piece of music.
Knit or sew.
Play a musical instrument.
Take a meditative walk in nature.
Laugh intensely.
