More Than Rest: When It’s Time to Let Go of What's Too Much
We talk a lot about rest in the mental health world. And for good reason. Rest is necessary. Rest is sacred. But sometimes… it’s not enough.
Sometimes you hit a point where no amount of naps, yoga nidra, or ocean-side vacations can touch the kind of exhaustion you’re carrying. Because what you need isn’t just rest. You need to take things off your plate indefinitely. You need space.
Especially in LGBTQ+ communities, where many of us are constantly fighting for visibility, safety, and care, the pressure to keep going is high. We’re often the caregivers, the community builders, high achievers, the artists, the disruptors. And we do it all while navigating the emotional and physical toll of living in a world that wasn’t designed with us in mind.
So here’s the hard truth: You might be at the point where it’s not about resting so you can go back and do it all again tomorrow. You might be at the point where it’s about finally being honest about what is and isn’t sustainable in the first place.
Naming the Unspoken: You Are Not Unlimited
A lot of us were raised on the myth of limitlessness. Hustle culture, grind culture, even activist culture sometimes sell us the idea that if we care enough or try hard enough, we can do it all.
But you are not unlimited. You are not a robot. You are not a movement machine. And time? That’s limited, too. When we don’t acknowledge that, we end up scattered, resentful, exhausted—and that deep passion we once had? It starts to fade.
Reflection questions:
What responsibilities or roles do you keep returning to, even when they leave you drained?
Where are you still trying to do it all?
What fears come up when you imagine stepping back or letting go?
Redefining Capacity: What Does Your Fullness Really Look Like?
Letting go of things isn’t failure. It’s maturity. It’s self-awareness. And it’s a key part of building a life that reflects your actual values.
When you remove the tasks, relationships, and projects that leave you stretched thin, you create room to show up fully for the things that matter. Your relationships become more reciprocal. Your creativity feels generative. Your activism becomes more grounded.
Reflection questions:
What would your day look like if you only did what you had the energy and desire to do?
What’s one thing you could take off your plate for good?
What might become possible if you had more space?
Living Aligned: The Freedom in Saying No
There’s a deep kind of freedom that comes from saying no. Not just for now, but for good. When you say no to what depletes you, you say yes to your health, your art, your joy, your presence.
This is about choosing a life where you can show up as your whole self—not the exhausted, half-there version. You deserve more than just surviving. You deserve a life you can actually live in.
Reflection questions:
Who in your life models this kind of intentional living?
How do you want to feel when you show up for the things that matter most?
What’s one brave no you could say this week?
Closing Thoughts
This isn’t just about burnout. It’s about recognizing that rest alone isn’t the fix when the pace and expectations are the problem. Start small. Say a brave no. Clear the clutter. Let your capacity be your compass. Because when you stop trying to do everything, you just might find that you finally have the energy to be who you really are. And if part of that journey means healing from the weight of past experiences, our LGBTQ+ trauma informed therapy may offer the support you’ve been looking for.