Fav Five 🖐️ | Embracing rest without the guilt
Five permission slips for a balanced life
Gratitude spotlight:
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Dear Friend,
Last week, I was under the weather and just when I thought I was getting better, I think I have been hit with something else!
There’s nothing like getting sick to make you slow down!
Over the years, I’ve been trying to rest without fighting it as much. (Am I the only one who feels uneasy about the things that aren’t getting done or feels impatient because I don’t want to let anyone down?)
We are not robots; we are humans who need breaks. When we don’t listen to our bodies, often our bodies force us to stop.
Last month, I talked about helpful permission slips I have given myself to enjoy my journey on Substack. This month, I have provided some much needed permission slip to have guilt-free downtime while we recover and to embrace being a human being instead of a human doing!
I would love to know: What permission slip would you add? Which one do you need?
Enjoy!
1. Permission to rest
It's okay to rest without guilt. You don't have to "earn" your rest by completing everything on your to-do list. Rest is essential, not a reward.
2. Permission to tune into your needs
It's okay to pause, listen to your body, and understand what you need in the moment. Trust your instincts and honour what feels right for you.
3. Permission to ask for help
Asking for help can feel daunting, especially if you’re used to being the strong one. But it’s important to recognise that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness. Whether it’s talking to a friend or loved one, seeking therapy, or joining a support group, know that you are not alone in this journey.
4. Permission to say no
It’s okay to say no to commitments and obligations that don’t serve you right now. Prioritising your well-being means understanding that sometimes, stepping back is the best choice for everyone involved.
5. Permission to feel your feelings
Allow yourself to fully experience and express your emotions—anger, sadness, joy, fear—without feeling the need to justify or hide them. Every emotion is valid.
Taking care of ourselves is not just an act of kindness; it’s essential for our overall well-being. Let’s treat ourselves the way we would treat our loved ones! 💕
✍️ What permission slip would you add? Which one do you need?
Thank you so much for stopping by! You may enjoy reading these as well:
I also did a podcast!
I would add: Permission to read. Not scroll, but spend long, leisurely time reading. After spending more time on social media than reading books, I began to find it hard to focus on longer reads. Joining a book club helped me with that, as did reading some of the wonderful, longer pieces I find here on Substack.
My permission slip is to not over-function and not do what others are capable of doing and should do for themselves - I had this in work this week and had to point blank refuse to someone dumping their work on me - a perfectly capable human being who wasn’t owning their work. What upset me most was that I was put in this position by a colleague, grrrhhh.