The Lost Art of Rest: Why It Matters for Women - Especially in Postpartum

Somewhere along the way, rest became a luxury. Productivity is glorified, and rushing from morning to night has become completely normal. I’ve had so many conversations with mums recently about just how real “the juggle” is - especially when you’ve got more than one child. The to-do lists, the packing lists, the playdates, the meals, the laundry… not to mention the mamas also working on top of mama-ing! The mental and physical load is extreme.

But we’ve forgotten something vital: rest isn’t a reward. It’s a non-negotiable - for preventing illness and for staying (at least somewhat) sane. For cyclical, pregnant, or postpartum women in particular, the need for rest isn’t just emotional or mental - it’s deeply biological.

Why We’ve Lost the Art of Rest

Often us women operate under a myth of "doing it all" and we see that more than ever in motherhood. We expect ourselves to be back in jeans within x weeks, reply to emails and messages while nursing, and meal prep with one hand while rocking a baby with the other. We’ve come to confuse rest with weakness, while being “busy” is worn like a badge of honour. Often, the only rest we’re getting is when we sleep and most of us are definitely not getting enough of that either.

We’ve also lost the community support that once made rest possible. In many societies, new mothers were held - figuratively and literally - by aunties, neighbours, and friends. Meals were delivered, housework handled, and the mother was free to just be. In contrast, today’s mothers often feel isolated, expected to manage everything solo.

The Cost of Chronic Exhaustion

When women - especially postpartum women - don’t rest, it doesn’t just impact mood or energy. The long-term health consequences are significant:

• Hormonal dysregulation: Prolonged stress and lack of rest can lead to adrenal fatigue, thyroid dysfunction, and menstrual irregularities.

• Mental health issues: Exhaustion is a major contributor to postpartum depression, anxiety, and rage. The less you rest, the more your nervous system stays in fight-or-flight mode.

• Weakened immune function: Chronic sleep deprivation increases susceptibility to illness, slows recovery, and can trigger autoimmune conditions.

• Burnout: When the tank runs dry, burnout follows - emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

How to Reclaim Rest: Pockets of Recovery in a Busy Day

You don’t need a spa weekend or a full night's sleep to start resting more. Here’s how to introduce micro-moments of rest into your day:

1. The 10 or 20 -Minute Lie-Down

Set a timer for 10 or 20 minutes. Lie on your back, close your eyes, and let your body soften. No phone, no podcast, no productivity - just stillness and breath. This signals safety to your nervous system and help to dial down the flight or fight reflex. We might feel that we can’t even carve out 10 or so minutes in our busy days, but realistically everyone does have 10 minutes at some point.

2. Make Tea, Sit Down, Drink It

Don’t sip while folding laundry. Don’t reheat it five times. Brew something nourishing (chamomile, raspberry leaf, nettle) and plan to sit, and drink it warm. Presence is a form of rest and even just a few minutes can make all the difference.

3. Off the Scroll

Scrolling feels like a break, but to the brain, it’s very stimulating, not soothing. If you’re always reaching for your phone in your free time, try challenge yourself to refrain from scrolling and read a book, listen to some music or just look out the window instead.

4. Breathwork or Meditation

Two minutes of diaphragmatic breathing can down-regulate your stress response. Apps like Insight Timer or just a simple count-inhale for 4, exhale for 6 can help.

5. Nap Guilt-Free

Postpartum or otherwise!

You have permission to nap!

As sleep scientist Matthew Walker explains in Why We Sleep, even short naps can have profound benefits for your brain and body. A 90-minute nap can enhance emotional regulation, reduce stress, and improve memory consolidation - essential when you're running on fragmented night sleep (hello, newborn life).

Walker writes:

“Naps... can offer a second wind of alertness and can boost motor skill performance and memory by up to 20%.”

This isn’t a luxury—it’s brain and body maintenance.

Rest Is Resistance - Less is more!

Rest is not laziness. It is radical, especially in a world that tells women they must always be doing to be worthy. When you rest, you signal to your body that you are safe, that healing can occur, that you are worth tending to. You’re reminding your body that she matters the most. Further more, the more we train ourselves to rest during little pockets of the day and reduce habits such as doom scrolling, multi tasking and always rushing around, the easier it becomes and the quicker our bodies rest effectively.

Especially postpartum, this is not indulgence. It’s the foundation of recovery, strength, and long-term health - for both you and your baby.