251. Why rest is productive (and Hustle Is Making You Sick)
In this episode, Anna challenges hustle culture and reframes rest as a powerful productivity tool and health necessity. She explains how chronic overwork and lack of sleep can dysregulate hormones, weaken the immune system, and increase emotional reactivity—especially for women whose biology requires cyclical rest. Drawing on Barbara O'Neill's "8 hours rest / 8 hours work / 8 hours play" framework, she offers practical tips for improving sleep quality and using visualization and breathing techniques to wind down. The episode closes with an invitation to rethink daily rhythms so that rest, work, and play are all honored.
Key Points
- Rest is productive, not lazy
- Hustle culture can harm health
- Women's biology needs cyclical rest
- Immune system depends on sleep
- Chronic sleep loss raises illness risk
- Emotional reactivity can signal fatigue
- Aim for 8 hrs rest / 8 work / 8 play
- Make bedroom dark, quiet, and cool
- No electronics 1 hour before bed
- Consider blue-light blocking tools
- Use cooling pads if you overheat
- Try deep breathing before sleep
- Visualize safe, familiar places
- Visualize future goals in detail
- Reassess how you spend your 24 hours
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Email: annamarie@happywholeyou.com / info@HappyWholeYou.com
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