In a world that equates busyness with worth, doing less can feel uncomfortable—almost wrong. You sit down to rest, and instead of feeling relieved, your mind starts racing. Shouldn’t I be doing something? Am I falling behind? Am I wasting time? The guilt creeps in quietly, even when you know you’re exhausted.This guilt isn’t random. It’s learned. We’ve been conditioned to believe that productivity defines value, that rest must be earned, and that slowing down means losing momentum. So when you choose to do less—work fewer hours, take a break, say no, or simply pause—you don’t just stop moving. You confront deeply ingrained beliefs about success and self-worth.Releasing guilt around doing less is not about becoming passive or unmotivated. It’s about creating a healthier relationship with effort. It’s about understanding that rest, boundaries, and slower seasons are not signs of failure; they are part of a sustainable life. And in a busy world, learning to let go of this guilt may be one of the most important skills you can develop.Why doing less makes us feel guilty — and how to let go1. Understanding where productivity guilt comes fromGuilt around doing less doesn’t appear out of nowhere. It is shaped… Read MoreYourStory RSS Feed
