We’ve been conditioned to believe that rest is optional—like guacamole on your burrito.
You can have it, but you’ll have to pay extra.
Let’s zoom out for a second and look at where this belief came from.
The hustle mindset didn’t just show up one day because Gary Vee started yelling about it. It’s deeply rooted in industrial-age values—when your productivity on the factory line was literally tied to your worth and your wages. The more you produced, the more valuable you were. Full stop.
Then came the Protestant work ethic, remember the Puritans from history class? They believed hard work was not just good, but godly. Resting? That was for the weak or the wicked. You’re either grinding or backsliding. There was no in-between.
If you’ve been listening to my show for more than 2 episodes, you know that when they’re answering that “what were the values and beliefs you were raised with” question, most of my guests say hard work. We’ve all been ingrained with this belief and accepted it without question.
Fast forward to the 1980s and ’90s – Wall Street, power suits, “I’ll Sleep when I’m dead” culture. Burnout was a badge of honor. In fact, Bon Jovi released a song in 1992 called “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead.”
Actually, as I was outlining this episode, I looked up when that phrase originated and found Benjamin Franklin supposedly said, “There will be plenty of time to sleep when you’re dead.” Clearly it’s been around for a while.
We celebrate busy. We glorify “the grind.” We worship the to-do list like it’s some kind of sacred scroll.
And now the whole country humblebrags about how little they sleep or how slammed they are, as if being overworked makes you more important. (It doesn’t. It just makes you more tired and cranky.)
So when someone does stop and rest, or take a day off without needing a “valid” excuse, it feels rebellious. Almost irresponsible. But that reaction? That guilt? It’s not truth – it’s just programming.
And it’s overdue for a rewrite.
Tune in now and discover for yourself:
✅ My personal story of zooming to burnout at 200 miles an hour, when I went beyond being “fucking cranky” to “totally wiped out”
✅ How to redefine and reframe “rest” and make it not only part of, but a catalyst, for your ability to achieve more
✅ Practical tools that you can use to create a “permission slip practice” that breaks the hustle-and-grind circle for you
✅ And much, much more!
Resources:
Invitation from Lori:
This episode is sponsored by Zen Rabbit.
Smart business leaders know trust is the foundation of every great workplace. And in today’s hybrid and fast-moving work culture, trust isn’t built in quarterly town halls or the occasional Slack message. It’s built through consistent, clear, and HUMAN communication.
Companies and leaders TALK about the importance of connection and community. And it’s easy to believe your organization is doing a great job of maintaining an awesome corporate culture. Because you’ve got annual all-hands and open door policies, and “fun” team-building events.
But let’s be real. Leaders who are serious about building real trust are finding better ways to strengthen culture, create connection, and foster community.
That’s where I come in. Forward thinking companies are hiring me to produce internal/private podcasts. To bring leadership and employees together through authentic stories, real conversations, and meaningful connections. Think of it as your old-school printed company newsletter – reinvented for the modern workforce. I KNOW, what a cool idea, right?!
If you run, work for, or know of a company that wants to upgrade communication, facilitate connections, build community, and maintain culture, let’s chat. Message me at Lori@ZenRabbit dot com.
Because when people feel heard, they engage.
When they engage, they perform.
And when they perform, the business succeeds beyond projections.
Now, let’s get started!
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