The Rise of Rest Culture: Why Doing Less Became the Ultimate Power Move

In the 2010s, hustle culture got a turbo boost. Tech giants were coming to life, and suddenly everyone was talking about the start-up grind. Founders and entrepreneurs were praised for working 100-hour weeks and sleeping under their desks.

It didn’t take long for this to leak into everyday life—cue the wall décor stamped with “Rise and Grind.” Through social media, the hustle became inescapable. People began commodifying their hobbies, working on passion projects in the evenings, and treating burnout like a badge of honour. The earlier you woke up, the fuller your calendar, the more you did—the better. Right?

Then came the next wave: the “5–9.” As in, 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. before work, then 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. after work. Sure, this version often focuses on self-care and personal goals—wake up for yoga, work on that novel. But let’s be real: who wants to be “on” from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m.? It still sounds like a recipe for burnout.

Somewhere between the endless notifications, meetings, and to-do lists, something started to shift. A quiet rebellion began.

And it sounded like this:

“I’m going to bed early.”

“I cancelled plans.”

“I took a nap—on purpose.”

Welcome to rest culture—a growing movement that’s redefining wellness not as constant self-optimisation, but as knowing when to slow down.

What Is Rest Culture?

Rest culture isn’t just a trend—it’s a response.

As burnout becomes a shared experience, more people are turning toward intentional rest. Instead of glorifying exhaustion, we’re starting to see rest for what it really is: a basic human need—and one that’s been systemically undervalued.

From sleep influencers to “bed rotting” memes, the cultural tide is turning. Rest is no longer something we sneak in; it’s something to schedule. To protect. To celebrate.

Why Rest Shouldn’t Be a Luxury

Here’s the wild part: having time to rest is starting to feel like a luxury.

The ability to nap, log off, or take a slow morning often depends on privilege—flexible schedules, quiet homes, and supportive environments. But everyone deserves rest. Everyone needs it. And yet, we still treat it like something we have to “earn.”

For years, hustle culture convinced us that success was built on exhaustion. Busy was a badge of honour. The more you did, the more valuable you were. That mindset didn’t just burn people out—it distorted how we think about rest.

Now, in a world where people are often juggling multiple jobs or working overtime just to keep up, rest has somehow been turned into a status symbol. Instagram is full of curated self-care routines and "soft life" aesthetics, but the reality is that many people don’t have the time or space to actually live that way.

Rest isn’t a reward for productivity. It’s a basic human need.

We shouldn’t have to hustle ourselves to the brink just to feel like we’ve “earned” a break. It’s time to challenge that thinking. Rest shouldn’t be seen as a luxury—because our bodies and minds don’t work that way.

Choosing to rest isn’t about being lazy or unambitious. It’s about rejecting the idea that our worth is tied to how much we do. It’s about protecting our well-being, even when the world makes it feel like a rebellious act.

Rest isn’t a reward for productivity. It’s a requirement for well-being.

The Wellness Case for Doing Less

You don’t need a clinical study to know that sleep, stillness, and quiet moments help you feel better—but just in case you do want proof, science backs it up:

• Rest improves focus and memory. Research from Harvard shows that sleep plays a crucial role in consolidating memories and enhancing cognitive function. A study suggests that dreaming may reactivate and reorganize recently learned material, boosting performance. (Source: https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/sleep-and-mental-health)

• Sleep supports emotional regulation and recovery. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports that adequate sleep is essential for maintaining mental health, as it helps regulate emotions and cope with daily stressors. Sleep deprivation can disrupt the brain mechanisms that govern emotional balance, leading to heightened stress responses. (Source: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/lack-sleep-disrupts-brains-emotional-controls)

• Slowing down lowers cortisol, the stress hormone. Engaging in mindful activities like deep breathing and meditation has been shown to reduce cortisol levels, the body's primary stress hormone. The Sleep Foundation explains that sleep helps regulate emotions and better manage the physical and psychological effects of stress. (Source: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/how-sleep-works/why-do-we-need-sleep)

• Intentional routines support your nervous system. Establishing calming routines can activate the body's relaxation response, aiding in stress reduction. The Sleep Foundation highlights that sleep is closely connected to mental and emotional health, emphasizing the importance of regular sleep patterns for overall well-being. (Source: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/mental-health)

This shift toward slow living wellness isn’t just aesthetic—it’s how we repair, recharge, and reconnect with what actually matters.

How to Build a Wind-Down Routine That Supports Rest

Creating a bedtime ritual isn’t just about sleep hygiene—it’s about signalling to your body that it’s safe to slow down. Here are a few ways to begin:

1. Create a Calming Nighttime Routine

Dim the lights. Power down your devices. Cue up a playlist, a book, or even just a few minutes of quiet. Your brain—and your body—need cues to shift from go-mode to rest.

2. Try Natural Sleep Support

You don’t need to knock yourself out to get good rest.

Gentle, plant-based rituals can help you ease into the evening—no pressure, no quick fixes, just simple support.

Non-intoxicating cannabinoids like CBN, found in the CBZ™ line, are becoming a popular option in evening routines. They’re part of a broader shift toward more mindful wind-down habits that support rest and relaxation.

And it’s not just cannabinoids—terpenes, the natural compounds that give plants their scent, also play a role. They’re in the chamomile tea you sip before bed, the lavender oil you might keep on your nightstand, or the diffuser blend that quietly shifts the mood of a room.

One blend we’ve come across—Rain Aroma’s Goodnight Diffuser Blend—mixes soft lavender with hints of pine, clove, and lemongrass. It’s subtle, grounding, and just the right amount of spa. It’s less about the product, more about the moment.

3. Reclaim Your Evening Time

Block off 30 minutes before bed for nothing. That’s right—no tasks, no goals, just space to be. Journal. Stretch. Sip something warm. Do one thing that tells your body, you can exhale now.

Burnout Recovery Starts With Boundaries

Rest culture isn’t about doing nothing forever. It’s about unlearning the toxic idea that your worth is tied to your output.

It’s about boundaries. Pacing. Permission. And letting go of the belief that you always need to be doing to be enough.

Whether you’re recovering from burnout or just trying to keep it at bay, choosing rest isn’t just a response to exhaustion—it’s a way to protect your well-being before it gets to that point.

Rest doesn’t have to be reactive. It’s not something we should only turn to when we’re already overwhelmed. It’s a constant practice—a power move to take care of yourself no matter what stage you’re at.

Why Is It Hard to Rest or Do Nothing?

If you find it near impossible to sit still or be bored, you’re not alone. It can feel jarring to go from hyper-stimulation to stillness. One big reason? How addicted we are to our phones.

A survey of over 2,000 adults in the U.S. found that 41% admitted to struggling with screen time management.

Societal perceptions of productivity, mixed with algorithms designed to keep you scrolling, mean many people find it hard to focus. Sitting down to read a novel can feel taxing when it’s easier to be fed short, punchy videos on your phone.

We’ve been so tired for so long that we default to turning off instead of tuning in.

“Brain rot,” a term that started as internet slang, perfectly captures the mental fog caused by passive consumption—endless scrolling, binge-watching, and that feeling of being mentally tapped out.

So no, if you find it tough to rest—even when you know you should—you’re not the only one.

Research suggests that individuals who are constantly in motion—whether physically or mentally—often experience a “crash” when attempting to rest. This drop in stimulation can feel like discomfort or even anxiety. That’s why many of us default to distractions instead of true rest. It’s not laziness—it’s a nervous system stuck in overdrive.

Final Thoughts: You Deserve to Rest

Rest isn’t lazy. It’s not indulgent. And it’s definitely not something you need to apologize for.

As rest culture continues to rise, one thing is clear: we’re not just tired—we’re done with the grind.

And we’re building a new kind of wellness. One that includes slow nights, soft mornings, and the kind of stillness that actually helps us feel like ourselves again.