Originally published on Psychology Today
Rest isn’t just about taking a break—it’s about what you’re resting from.
You booked the Airbnb. You stepped away from work. Maybe you even left your laptop behind (gasp!). But now it’s Monday, and you’re somehow more exhausted than before you left. What gives?
If you’ve ever returned from a “restful” weekend still tired, you’re not imagining it. Many high-achievers try to solve burnout with surface-level breaks—only to find themselves back at square one (but with unpacked bags and a backlog of emails).
The Problem Isn’t Your Weekend. It’s What You’re Carrying Into It.
Burnout isn’t just physical tiredness—it’s emotional depletion, decision fatigue, mental overload, and a constant sense of “I should be doing more.” So if your day-to-day life feels like an endless to-do list, a weekend off—while lovely—isn’t going to change that.
You’re not just tired. You’re overfunctioning. And a 48-hour break can’t undo a lifestyle that demands superhuman energy on a regular basis.
Types of Tired You Might Be Missing
Beyond physical fatigue, burnout often includes:
- Mental fatigue from constant decision-making, strategizing, and problem-solving
- Emotional load from managing others’ feelings or suppressing your own
- Social expectations that require you to perform, host, or smooth over tension
- Sensory overload from screens, noise, and overstimulating environments
A girls’ weekend with 20 people and a jam-packed itinerary might be fun—but it’s not going to touch emotional or mental fatigue. Sometimes, what you need most is the rest that no one else can schedule for you.
So What Does Help?
- Name What Kind of Tired You Are
Not all fatigue is solved by napping. Are you emotionally tired from holding space for others? Socially tired from constant availability? Start there. - Give Yourself Permission to Rest Imperfectly
You don’t need the “perfect” vacation. You need recovery that meets your actual needs—even if that means staying home, canceling plans, leaving something undone, or doing nothing on purpose. - Build Micro-Rest Into Your Week
Stop saving rest for your next PTO request. Find small ways to reset throughout the week—quiet meals, five-minute walks, letting one task stay undone. Tiny exits from hustle mode add up—and they’re more sustainable than waiting for a magical weekend to fix everything.
It’s Not About the Weekend. It’s About the Life You’re Returning To.
Here’s the real fix: It’s not just a better vacation—it’s a better baseline.
You deserve a life that doesn’t require heroic levels of recovery. That starts with creating space for yourself within your daily life—not just on the margins of it.
Because rest isn’t a reward for surviving. It’s a requirement for living well.
If you’re overloaded and it’s leading to exhaustion, consider grabbing my anti-overwhelm tool – A checklist that helps you answer “Should I Do This?” Get it here.
