Why Rest Is the Most Underrated Wellness Tool in Your 30s

Rest days are the thing hustle culture forgot. And for women in their 30s, who are juggling work, relationships, hormones, and endless to-do lists, learning to rest isn’t a luxury. It’s survival.

When we think about health, most of us think about eating well, moving our bodies, and maybe getting enough sleep. But there’s one element of wellbeing that’s often overlooked — even though it’s completely free, accessible to everyone, and absolutely vital.

That thing? Rest.

My Wake-Up Call: When Burnout Forced Me to Rest

A few years ago, I was in a stressful job with a long commute that took over my life. I didn’t see friends, I wasn’t looking after myself, and rest simply wasn’t on the schedule. I thought that I was handling things and just getting on with it.

Until my body forced me to stop.

Out of nowhere, I developed a sudden migraine that spiralled into tonsillitis. I ended up in hospital, scared and completely depleted. What struck me most wasn’t just the illness — it was the realisation that my body literally had nothing left to give because I’d been running on empty for so long. I felt embarrassed and ashamed that this illness hospitalised me because I wasn’t able to fight it.

That was my turning point. I realised rest isn’t optional. It’s essential. This experience scared me so much that it forced me to change the way I had been looking after myself or ‘not’ looking after myself. I never want you to have to get to this point where you’re forced to stop. Forced to slow down because its all your body can do to protect you.

Why Rest Matters?

We often treat rest like something we have to earn — but the truth is, rest is as vital as food, water, and oxygen. Without it, your body can’t repair or function properly.

Here’s what happens when you don’t rest:

Your muscles don’t recover, leaving you more prone to injury.
Your mind becomes foggy, forgetful, and stressed.
Stress hormones spike, throwing your whole system — including your menstrual cycle — out of balance.
Poor sleep leads to exhaustion and more stress which gets you into a vicious cycle that’s hard to break.

And when we talk about rest, it isn’t only about sleep. It’s also about creating moments of calm and stillness throughout your day— reading, meditating, journaling, or even lighting a candle to find moments of calm in your everyday.

Busting the Myths About Rest

So many of us avoid rest and it’s normally down to these two big myths:

“I don’t have time.”
The classic right? We have a long enough to do list without adding rest. Rest isn’t productive and we have better things to do. But the truth is if you don’t make time to rest regularly, your body will eventually force you to stop. Be in control of your life and your health. Make it your decision to prioritize your health instead of your body having to decide.
“Rest is lazy.”
There’s that hustle culture talking again. Rest doesn’t make you lazy — it makes you more resilient, present, and able to enjoy your life.

I’ll leave you with this thought: when your phone battery hits 15%, you plug it in immediately. So why do we treat our phones better than our own bodies?

What Success means in Your 30s

For years, I thought “success” meant climbing the career ladder, working long hours, and owning the big house. But when it cost me my health, I had to re-evaluate. No level of success is worth the detriment of our health or not allowing ourselves to rest. If your idea of success comes at the price of rest and health, then that price is too high.

Now, for me, success looks like balance. Time to walk my dog, have breakfast with my partner, and enjoy weekends without being glued to my laptop. Finding those small things that you enjoy should become the priority. Putting ourselves first and being healthy & happy is the new measure of success!

The truth is, your definition of success can change — especially in your 30s. It’s okay to reflect and ask: “Is the life I’m chasing the one I actually want?”

Can Yoga help you to rest?

If lying on the sofa isn’t your thing (though it totally can be), yoga offers the perfect form of active rest. What is active rest because it sounds like an oxymoron right? Well active rest is a way to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and get all the benefits of rest through restorative mindful movement like Yoga. If you’re anything like me, resting by sitting still doesn’t really work. So, gentle yoga flows can be a great way to calm the nervous system, release tension and calm the mind.

Just 5–10 minutes a day can help reduce stress, improve sleep, and bring your body (and mind) back into balance.

As a Yoga teacher, I am always going to recommend Yoga because I genuinely believe there isn’t an area of your life that Yoga cannot solve. Want to spend some time on the mat? Join me on Youtube and start finding some daily peace:

(34) Liv Berry – YouTube

Want more ways to find restful moments? Pair Yoga with journaling to reflect on what helps you feel most rested, and you’ll start to notice positive ripple effects in every area of your wellbeing. New to journaling and want all the best newbie tips? Listen to my podcast episode here:

Here’s what I want you to remember:

✨ Rest is not a reward.
✨ Rest is not laziness.
✨ Rest is essential.

Start by asking yourself: “When was the last time I truly rested?” If the answer doesn’t come easily, that’s your sign to make space for it today. I say hustle can wait and I invite you to make rest the new goal of your 30s.

Liv Sarah Berry