15. november 2025

i used to think rest had to be earned. deserved.

“i didn’t respond to every message.”
“i didn’t do what i was supposed to this week, even though i had time.”
“i didn’t do school, that and that…”

most of the time, i made myself finish everything on my list. but soon i realized i was heading straight toward burnout. i kept pushing and pushing, even with terrible headaches, my whole body aching from exhaustion — pretending i was okay.

when doctors found something was off in my body, that’s when i realized it might be time for me to actually rest. that i’d been pushing too hard.
but this time, i didn’t choose to rest — i had to.

i started listening to my body.
every time i got a new pimple, felt overwhelmed, or suddenly exhausted, i tried to look back at the past few days and notice what might have caused it.

you don’t have to be perfect to succeed, because, in the end, nobody is, and nobody ever was.
you don’t have to pull an all-nighter for one exam, or stay home studying instead of going out with friends. i’m not saying don’t do your work, just make space for both.

you are not a machine.
our bodies are built to need rest.

fun fact: women need around 8–10 hours of sleep, while men need about 7–8 to function properly throughout the day.

i used to think rest only meant sleeping or reading a book, and yes, that’s part of it, but not for everyone. real rest means giving peace to both your body and your mind.

i’ve learned that i rest best when i go for walks, my favorite ones are in the forest.
just hearing the sound of leaves or water flowing through small rivers makes me calm.

when i don’t feel like walking and just need a short break, i grab my headphones and listen to music.
(another fun fact haha: listening to music can lower stress by 65%!)

recently, i decided to try something new, so i spontaneously bought a guitar and started learning to play. i have never played an instrument in my life before. but everything is for the first time, right? i love playing on it, because it stops my mind from overthinking and helps me focus on one thing at a time. (plus, i get to play my favorite songs 🎸)

it’s easier said than done. trust me, i know ♡

i still catch myself feeling guilty when i rest, even though i know i should.
i still push myself past my limits, even though i know better.
and yes, sometimes you’ll feel guilty. but that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.

you’re learning. you’re growing. you’re blooming…remember?

it’s okay to rest.
you’re not weak.

you’re trying, you’re learning,
and you deserve to rest.

so please, promise me,
slow down ♡

love,
hana