How to Get Over the Guilty Feeling of Relaxing

Have you ever felt a pang of guilt when you’re not doing something “productive”? Like, you finally get a moment to chill on the couch, look into where The Last of Us streaming, so you can have a binge-fest. 

But instead of enjoying it, you’re plagued by thoughts of all the things you should be doing. Maybe you should be doing something like cooking, running some errands, cleaning, or doing a DIY beauty routine before bed. Well, welcome to the club! Thanks to hustle culture and this whole mentality of always getting stuff done (or making money), many of us are in the same boat, feeling like we need to be productive every second of the day. But guess what? It’s totally okay to relax. 

In fact, it’s essential. You absolutely have to do this! So, let’s dive into why we feel guilty about relaxing and how to shake off that guilt.

It All Starts with Understanding the Guilt

So, it was briefly mentioned earlier, but it definitely deserves some more attention. Why do we even feel guilty about relaxing? Blame it on hustle culture. Everywhere you look, there’s this constant push to be busy, to hustle, to always be on the grind. Actually, social media doesn’t help either, with everyone posting about their side gigs, their workouts at 5 AM, and their perfect meal prep. It’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind if you’re not constantly doing something productive.

But here’s the thing: our brains and bodies aren’t designed to be “on” all the time. Just like a computer, we need to shut down, reboot, and sometimes just run on sleep mode. Guilt about relaxing often stems from unrealistic expectations and comparing ourselves to others. The truth is, relaxation is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Sure, it’s great to be productive, but you don’t have to be like this 24/7!

You Need to Start Redefining Productivity

One way to get over the guilt would be by simply redefining what productivity means to you. It’s so important to see productivity differently because it isn’t just about ticking off tasks from your to-do list. It’s also about maintaining your well-being so you can actually enjoy life and be your best self. Think of relaxation as a part of your productivity routine. When you take time to relax, you’re recharging your batteries, which will make you more efficient and focused when you get back to your tasks.

Setting Boundaries

Another great way to combat relaxation guilt is by setting clear boundaries for work and rest. It might be way easier said than done, right? Well, when you work from home or have a flexible schedule, the lines between work and personal time can blur. So, that’s exactly why it’s really important to try and force yourself to set specific times for work and stick to them. Once your work time is over, give yourself permission to relax without feeling guilty. 

Start Practicing Mindfulness

So, this is a piece of advice that gets tossed around left and right, and it almost sounds generic, right? Well, it’s often recommended because of how powerful this is! Now, mindfulness is a powerful tool that can help you live in the moment and appreciate the time you take to relax. 

When you start feeling guilty about relaxing, take a deep breath and bring your focus to the present. It gives you a chance to just remind yourself that it’s okay to be here, doing nothing. You deserve this break, everyone deserves a break.

You Deserve to Celebrate Small Wins

Speaking of what you deserve, you deserve to celebrate those little wins! Now, we often overlook the small wins in our day-to-day lives. Did you finish a project at work? Celebrate it. Did you manage to get through a tough meeting? That’s a win. Seriously, just by acknowledging these small victories, you’ll start to see that you’re actually quite productive, even if you take some time to relax.

Start Planning Your Relaxation

Sometimes, scheduling relaxation into your day can help alleviate the guilt. Yep, you read that right! If it’s on your calendar, it’s an activity just like any other. Plan a walk, a coffee break, or even just a half-hour of doing nothing. So, you’re going to want to go ahead and start treating it like an appointment you can’t miss. Over time, you’ll start seeing relaxation as an essential part of your routine rather than something to feel guilty about. There’s something about appointments that makes things feel more serious.