I learned one of the scariest yet best, and certainly most memorable, lessons about rest through my youngest daughter's concussion - or rather, through three of them. Each time, her body knew exactly what to do: complete shutdown. No negotiations, no "pushing through," just immediate and total rest.

One moment she's her usual active self, the next - complete memory loss, lethargy, and deep sleep.

As a mother who understands natural healing, I knew what was happening. Her sophisticated body was taking control, essentially saying, "Sorry, but you need to step aside. We've got important repair work to do."

Why did her body need such a dramatic shutdown?

Because the brain can't efficiently repair itself while also:

• Processing new information

• Controlling movement

• Managing daily functions

• Responding to the external world

It's a bit like trying to repair a highway while traffic is still flowing. Sometimes, you just need to close the road.

Here's where it gets interesting for all of us:

Your body is constantly sending similar messages about rest and repair.

The difference?

Most of us have gotten really good at ignoring these signals.

We push through fatigue, override our natural rhythms, and wear our sleep deprivation like a badge of honor.

But if you won't choose rest, eventually rest will choose you.

How many people do you know who had to learn this lesson the hard way?

The executive who ignored stress signals until a health crisis forced them to stop. The parent who pushed through exhaustion until their body simply gave out. The entrepreneur who burned out because they thought rest was for "later."

I’m certainly one of them.

The body's wisdom is non-negotiable. Just like my daughter's brain knew exactly what it needed, your body knows what it needs. The question is: will you listen to the whispers, or wait for the shouts?

As we enter the darker, quieter months of the year, this message becomes even more critical. But don't worry - I'm not here to tell you to just "slow down" (as if it were that simple). Instead, I'm going to show you how to work with your natural cycles rather than against them.

Because here's what I know for sure: Rest isn't a reward for the exhausted; it's an investment the wise make in their future.

The Hidden Cost of Ignoring Nature's Warning Signs

Think of stress like your body's check engine light. Most of us? We put a piece of tape over that light and keep driving. Sure, the car still runs - for now. But we all know how that story ends.

Let's get real about what's actually happening when we ignore our body's signals:

It starts subtly. Maybe you're:

• Taking longer to recover from normal activities

• Finding it harder to focus or make decisions

• Noticing small physical discomforts

• Feeling irritable about things that usually don't bother you

Nothing major, right? Just life?

Wrong.

These are your first warning signals. Ignore them, and here's the cascade that follows:

1. Initial Stress Response

   • Your body increases cortisol production

   • Your immune system starts to compromise

   • Your sleep quality decreases

   • Your digestion begins to suffer

2. The Domino Effect

   • Poor sleep leads to worse decision-making

   • Compromised immunity makes you more susceptible to illness

   • Digestive issues affect your nutrient absorption

   • Mental clarity takes a nosedive

3. The Breaking Point

   • Chronic fatigue sets in

   • Anxiety or depression may show up

   • Physical illness becomes more frequent

   • Recovery times get longer and longer

Here's what most people miss: Stress isn't just an emotional state or a temporary inconvenience. It's your body's way of saying, "If you won't slow down voluntarily, I'll make you."

Think about it this way:

When my daughter had her concussions, her body knew exactly what to do - complete shutdown for repair. But what if she had tried to "push through"? What if we had ignored those signals and kept her active?

The damage would have piled up. The recovery would have taken longer. The consequences would have been more severe.

Your body operates on the same principle.

The difference? Unlike a sudden injury that forces immediate rest, chronic stress creates a slow burn that can be easier to ignore - until it isn't.

I see this pattern especially in:

• High-achievers trying to "do it all"

• Entrepreneurs building their dreams

• Caregivers putting everyone else first

• Anyone who's internalized the message that rest equals weakness

The time you think you "can't afford" to rest? That's exactly when you need it most.

Nature's Intelligence: What Gardens and Bodies Can Teach Us About Rest

Let me share something I learned from my garden in New Jersey that completely changed how I view rest and productivity.

In winter, the ground literally freezes solid. As a gardener, you have two choices: fight against this natural cycle (and fail), or work with it (and thrive).

Here's the interesting part: Some plants, like garlic, actually NEED that frozen period. You plant them just before the ground freezes, and they use that dormant time to develop strong roots. Try to rush this process or skip the freezing period, and you'll end up with weak, underdeveloped plants.

Your energy works the same way. Just like a garden, you have natural seasons of:

• Growth (spring)

• Peak productivity (summer)

• Harvest and winding down (fall)

• Rest and restoration (winter)

But here's what most people get wrong - they try to live in perpetual summer.

Think about it. We're constantly pushing for:

• Maximum productivity

• Continuous growth

• Endless output

• Constant achievement

It's like trying to harvest tomatoes in December. It just doesn't work.

Here's what your body knows that your ambition sometimes forgets:

1. Growth requires rest periods

2. Restoration happens in cycles

3. Forced productivity leads to diminished returns

4. What looks like "nothing happening" on the surface often hides deep internal development

Remember my daughter's concussion story? Her body instinctively knew to shut down for repair. Your body has the same wisdom - but are you listening?

The Inconvenient Truth About Rest:

In nature, nothing operates at peak capacity all the time. Not trees, not soil, not animals, and certainly not humans. Yet somehow, we've convinced ourselves we're the exception to this universal rule.

We're not.

The most successful people I know aren't the ones who push hardest - they're the ones who understand and work with their natural cycles.

They know when to:

• Push forward (like planting in spring)

• Go all out (summer energy)

• Start winding down (fall reflection)

• Rest and restore (winter renewal)

As we enter the darker months of the year, your body is naturally pulling toward restoration mode. Fighting this isn't ambitious - it's unwise.

You might think you’ve become experts at ignoring your body's signals. Wearing exhaustion like a medal of honor, brag about how "busy" you are, and reach for another coffee instead of real rest.

But your body? It's keeping score.

These signals aren't character flaws or signs of weakness. They're intelligence at work.

Just like my daughter's body knew to shut down for healing after her concussion, your body knows exactly what it needs. The question is: are you listening?

The Real Cost of Ignoring These Signs:

• Decreased immune function

• Poor decision-making

• Strained relationships

• Reduced creativity and innovation

• Compromised long-term health

Your body will eventually enforce the rest you refuse to take voluntarily. And its timing won't consider your schedule, your deadlines, or your plans.

The Radical Art of Choosing Rest: How to Restore Without Shutting Down

Let's zoom in on what rest really means.

True rest isn't Netflix binges or scrolling social media until your eyes blur. It's not about collapsing in exhaustion after pushing yourself to the limit.

Real rest is an art. And like any art, it requires intention.

Think about it like this: When my daughter's body forced a shutdown after her concussions, it wasn't just about "doing nothing." Her body was actually incredibly active in repair mode. That's what true rest looks like.

The Power of Active Rest:

It's about giving your system what it needs to:

• Process experiences

• Repair cellular damage

• Integrate learning

• Build resilience for what's ahead

Here's what most people get wrong about rest:

They think it means complete inactivity. But remember my gardening story? Even in winter, when nothing seems to be happening above ground, crucial development is happening beneath the surface.

What Active Rest Actually Looks Like:

1. Mental Rest

   • Reflection instead of planning

   • Integration instead of input

   • Processing instead of producing

   • Dreaming instead of doing

2. Physical Rest

   • Gentle movement instead of intense workouts

   • Nourishing foods instead of comfort eating

   • Quality sleep instead of caffeine-fueled push-through

   • Deep breathing instead of shallow stress breathing

3. Emotional Rest

   • Feeling instead of fixing

   • Being instead of doing

   • Accepting instead of forcing

   • Allowing instead of controlling

Why Winter is Perfect for This Work

Nature is literally showing us how to do this right now. The shorter days, the colder weather - it's all an invitation to turn inward.

This is why most New Year's resolutions fail. They're trying to force spring energy in winter season. It's like planting cucumber in December - it just doesn't work.

Instead of fighting this natural cycle, what if you worked with it?

The Rest Trap: Stop Earning What You Already Deserve

Rest isn't a reward for exhaustion - it's a prerequisite for excellence.

Yet how many of us treat rest like some prize we have to earn?

"I'll rest after..."

• This project is done

• The kids are in bed

• I hit my goals

• Everything's perfect

Sound familiar?

It's like telling yourself you have to earn the right to breathe. Sounds ridiculous when I put it that way, doesn't it? But that's exactly what we're doing when we treat rest like a reward.

The Truth About Strategic Rest:

Rest is where the magic happens. It's in these quiet moments that:

• Your brain makes new connections

• Your body repairs itself

• Your creativity flourishes

• Your wisdom deepens

Think about it like gardening (yes, I'm back to my garden metaphors). You don't wait until the soil is completely depleted before adding nutrients. You maintain it consistently so it can keep producing.

Your energy works the same way.

This week, I challenge you to shift your perspective. Instead of seeing rest as something you earn after pushing yourself to exhaustion, try viewing it as essential preparation for what's ahead.

Start small. Maybe it's:

• A real lunch break away from your desk

• A morning moment of quiet before the day begins

• An evening wind-down that doesn't involve screens

The key isn't perfection - it's permission. Permission to rest before you're desperate for it.

[Speaking of permission... I'm creating something special for those ready to master this art of strategic rest. Not another "self-care" program, but a complete reframe of how you approach energy and restoration. Stay tuned.]

Because here's what I know for sure: The most sustainable success doesn't come from constant pushing. It comes from knowing how to rest strategically, before rest becomes your only option.

A Personal Note on Walking My Talk

You might have noticed there was no newsletter last week. Here's the truth: I found myself caught in the exact pattern I'm writing about today.

My schedule was packed with holiday festivities and obligations. By Tuesday, I was desperately looking forward to "finally being able to rest." By Thursday, my body was sending clear signals - aches, fatigue, irritability. Classic signs of pushing too hard, right?

When my usual newsletter writing time came around, something in me simply said, "I just need a rest." For once, I listened.

This isn't just theory for me. Over the past month, I've been reflecting deeply on what we need as active (sometimes overactive) people. Not just surface-level "self-care" advice, but real, practical approaches to working with our natural rhythms instead of against them.

What I'm creating - what I'll be sharing with you soon - isn't just another program. It's the distillation of everything I've learned about thriving without burning out. It's what works for me when I'm actually listening to my own wisdom.

Because sometimes the best lessons come from our own moments of forgetting and remembering. Last week was one of those moments for me. Maybe reading this is one of those moments for you.

Until next time, Azizi

P.S. If you're ready to explore a different way of being productive without sacrificing your well-being, join the waitlist [link here]. Together, we'll learn to rest before rest becomes our only option.