Learning to trust when the answer is rest
Because it's too easy to push through
I had planned to write an article today on a complicated topic.
It would have taken deep focus and energy to turn that topic into something people might want to read, something that might actually help them.
But I woke up feeling sad, exhausted and foggy.
I’m going through something quite hard at the moment, something which is bringing back difficult memories. I’m also at the point in my cycle where my hormones are at their most challenging. Progesterone is dropping dramatically, and this is lowering serotonin and dopamine (the “happy” hormones) and crashing my energy.
So my body said no.
It would have been so easy to lean on old behaviours and push through. It would, undoubtedly, have taken longer than it should, but I could have used coffee for energy and clarity, and a dose of sheer determination to get through.
But I can’t unsee what I’ve seen before: that years of pushing through led to my health collapsing, leaving me unable to work for two years. Back then I couldn’t hear my body crying, but now it’s impossible to ignore. So even when my instinct is to keep going, I try to have faith that if I rest now, I’ll be stronger later.
So far, it’s always proven to be true. I’m a better mum, partner, friend, coach, and writer if I allow myself to rest first.
Furthermore, every time I choose to listen to my body, I know I’m building an important evidence bank for my brain. It’s rewiring the neural pathways that once thought rest had to be earned.
Thank you so much for being here 💛
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I’m a functional medicine and nutrition coach, specialising in hormone and gut health. If you’d like to find out more about my work, please visit www.kate-oliver.com
The information and advice given are for educational and guidance purposes. I do not aim to diagnose, treat or cure any illness or disease, and advice does not replace that of your doctor.
Kate, choosing rest before collapse reframes capacity as something to steward, never a resource to spend until it disappears. Each pause protects more than today’s energy; it preserves the reliability your children, clients, relationships, and future self depend upon. Repeatedly honoring that limit can turn rest from an emergency response into an ordinary practice of trust. Grateful for the candor with which you showed the quieter courage of stopping while meaningful work remains unfinished.
We could all take a lesson from this. It's an important reminder to truly listen to our bodies and rest when the moment calls for it. Thank you for sharing.