The liberation of rest
In a world that glorifies hustle culture and relentless productivity, rest has become a radical act of self-liberation. The idea that we must earn rest or that our worth is tied to output has led to cycles of burnout, exhaustion, and disconnection from our inner wisdom. Yet, true progress, healing, and holistic well-being cannot exist without intentional rest and recovery.
Rest is not a passive state—it is a reclaiming of autonomy, a return to our natural rhythms, and a commitment to thriving rather than merely surviving. It is a tool for clarity, cognitive optimisation, emotional resilience, and deep healing.
Rest as a Radical Act of Reclamation
Rest is often dismissed as non-essential, but in reality, it is one of the most powerful tools for self-preservation, creativity, and resilience. The Nap Ministry, founded by Tricia Hersey, offers a transformative perspective: rest is an act of resistance, self-care, and liberation from oppressive systems that demand endless productivity.
By prioritising rest, we:
✔ Dismantle the myth that rest must be earned
✔ Challenge the glorification of overwork and exhaustion
✔ Reclaim our time, energy, and well-being as a birthright
✔ Enhance our creativity, intuition, and decision-making
Rest is not a luxury—it is a necessity.
The Neuroscience of Rest: Why It’s Essential for Liberation & Growth
From a scientific perspective, rest is crucial for brain function, emotional balance, and long-term well-being. It is not just about avoiding fatigue—it is about optimising our entire being for clarity, creativity, and resilience.
1. Rest Enhances Mental Clarity & Decision-Making
Chronic exhaustion impairs cognitive function, problem-solving, and emotional regulation. A well-rested brain operates with greater precision, focus, and adaptability.
2. Rest as a Catalyst for Creativity & Intuition
Many of history’s greatest thinkers, including Albert Einstein, Maya Angelou, and Nikola Tesla, embraced rest, naps, and solitude as part of their creative process. The brain processes complex problems and generates innovative insights during deep rest and subconscious reflection.
3. Rest is Essential for Emotional Regulation & Nervous System Balance
Rest allows the nervous system to shift from fight-or-flight mode to rest-and-digest mode, reducing cortisol (stress hormones) and increasing dopamine and serotonin—essential for emotional resilience and well-being.
4. The Body’s Detox & Repair Mechanisms Activate During Rest
During sleep, the glymphatic system flushes out toxins and metabolic waste from the brain. This process is vital for preventing cognitive decline and supporting long-term brain health.
Rest for Holistic Optimisation: Unlocking Creativity, Intuition, and Innovation
One of the most overlooked benefits of rest is its ability to enhance creativity, problem-solving, and intuitive intelligence.
✔ Daydreaming and "mind-wandering" states activate the brain’s creative networks.
✔ Rest helps the subconscious mind form new connections, leading to innovative insights.
✔ Many great thinkers, used rest and naps as creative tools.
How Rest Fuels Creativity & Intuition
🔹 The Default Mode Network (DMN) & Creative Thinking
The Default Mode Network (DMN), a key brain system, becomes highly active during rest. This network is responsible for creative problem-solving, imagination, and big-picture thinking. When we take breaks, the DMN helps us synthesise new ideas and insights.
🔹 "Eureka Moments" and Subconscious Processing
Many breakthrough ideas occur during sleep, daydreaming, or deep relaxation. The subconscious continues working on complex problems, often presenting solutions unexpectedly—during a nap, a walk, or in the shower.
🔹 REM Sleep & Innovation
Studies show that REM sleep enhances creative problem-solving by helping the brain reorganise and integrate new information. Those who get adequate REM sleep perform significantly better on creative tasks than those who are sleep-deprived.
🔹 Rest as an Active Creative Practice
Rather than seeing rest as a passive state, embracing it as part of the creative process leads to greater clarity, innovation, and efficiency. Short naps, meditation, and quiet reflection are not distractions—they are essential tools for creative mastery.
The Reticular Activating System (RAS) & The Power of Rest
The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is the brain’s gatekeeper, determining what information enters our awareness. When we are constantly in a state of stress and overwork, our RAS filters in more chaos, urgency, and overwhelm.
By prioritising rest, we rewire the RAS to:
✔ Recognise opportunities, clarity, and solutions instead of obstacles
✔ Strengthen focus and intentional thinking
✔ Reduce reactivity and cultivate a state of calm responsiveness
Rest doesn’t slow us down—it recalibrates us to function at our highest level.
Reiki & Rest: Energy Healing as a Path to Deep Restoration
Reiki, works on an energetic level to restore balance, clear blockages, and activate the body's self-healing mechanisms. Integrating Reiki with rest enhances relaxation, supports emotional processing, and optimises nervous system recovery.
How Reiki Enhances Rest
✔ Shifts the body into deep relaxation and parasympathetic (healing) mode
✔ Clears energetic stagnation, creating space for renewal and alignment
✔ Strengthens the connection between mind, body, and intuition
✔ Amplifies subconscious healing during sleep and dream states
Reiki and rest together create a profound synergy for holistic well-being, allowing us to release stored tension, access deeper clarity, and restore inner balance.
Rest as a Gateway to Liberation & Holistic Optimisation
The greatest myth of modern society is that rest is counterproductive—that to succeed, we must be in constant motion. But the truth is, rest is one of the most powerful tools for sustainable success, creativity, and well-being.
✔ When we rest, we sharpen our minds.
✔ When we rest, we deepen our creativity and intuition.
✔ When we rest, we reclaim our time, energy, and sovereignty.
The liberation of rest is the understanding that we do not need to push harder to prove our worth—we are already worthy. Rest is an act of self-honor, a return to wholeness, and a key to living in alignment with our highest potential.
So take a deep breath. Pause. Rest.
Because rest is your birthright. Rest is revolutionary. Rest is liberation.
