The ROI of Rest: Why Prioritising Your Wellbeing Is the Smartest Career Move
By Paige Coulthurst, Operations Director at Soap MediaWhen was the last time you truly prioritised your wellbeing?
If you’re an ambitious woman juggling career growth, personal commitments, and a never-ending to-do list, rest often falls to the bottom of your priorities. But here’s the truth: rest isn’t a luxury - it’s one of the smartest investments you can make.
We’re often sold the idea that success requires relentless hustle. Yet research shows that strategic rest improves cognitive function, leadership performance, and even earning potential. Women who prioritise their wellbeing don’t just avoid burnout - they perform better, make sharper decisions, and sustain long-term success.
The Hidden Costs of Burnout for Women
Women - especially entrepreneurs and professionals - face unique pressures.
Studies show women are more likely to experience burnout than men, due to unpaid emotional labour, overworking to “prove themselves,” and juggling career with caregiving.
Burnout impairs decision-making, leadership performance, and long-term productivity.
Rested professionals earn more - thanks to improved focus, clarity, and innovation.
If success is your goal, burnout isn’t a badge of honour. It’s a liability.
Why Rest Is the Ultimate Career Hack
Rest doesn’t mean slowing down - it means working smarter. Here’s how:
1. Rested Minds Make Better Decisions
Pushing through exhaustion may feel productive, but mental fatigue leads to poor judgement. High-performing women schedule regular rest so they can lead with clarity and focus.
Try this: Block out weekly “CEO Time” — 1–2 hours of quiet, focused space for strategic thinking or high-level planning.
2. Energy Is Contagious
Well-rested women uplift everyone around them. Your energy sets the tone for your clients, team, and partnerships - and it starts with how well you take care of yourself.
3. Sustainable Success Requires Recovery
Elite athletes prioritise recovery - and so should you. Without proper rest, your long-term capacity for growth and impact suffers.
Try this: Use the 80/20 rule - identify the 20% of tasks that drive the most results and delegate or drop the rest.
The 7 Types of Rest High-Achieving Women Need
True rest isn’t just about sleep. According to Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, author of Sacred Rest, these are the seven kinds of rest that lead to peak performance:
1. Physical Rest
Prioritise quality sleep and sleep hygiene
Incorporate yoga, walking, or stretching
Take micro-breaks throughout your workday
2. Mental Rest
Reduce decision fatigue with clear priorities
Step away from screens
Practice mindfulness or brain dumping
3. Sensory Rest
Unplug from noise, screens, and artificial lighting
Spend time in nature or stillness
Embrace silent, tech-free mornings or evenings
4. Creative Rest
Refill your inspiration well through art, beauty, or nature
Try non-outcome-based hobbies like journaling or photography
Let yourself daydream
5. Emotional Rest
Say no to draining commitments
Give yourself space to feel - through journaling, therapy, or conversation
Connect with people who allow you to be fully yourself
6. Social Rest
Take breaks from high-maintenance relationships
Seek out energising, supportive friendships
Allow time alone to recalibrate
7. Spiritual Rest
Reconnect with your purpose
Spend time in prayer, meditation, or reflection
Give back through mentoring, volunteering, or conscious contribution
How to Protect Your Wellbeing Without Losing Momentum
High achievers don’t have to choose between rest and results. Here’s how to integrate both:
Time-Block for Recovery
Treat rest like an essential meeting - add it to your calendar. From digital detox weekends to “No Meeting Fridays,” create space proactively.
Learn to Say No Without Guilt
Reframe it as protecting your capacity, not letting someone down. Example: “That sounds exciting, but I’m currently at capacity - can we revisit later this quarter?”
Leverage Support Systems
Success is a team sport. Delegate, automate, and ask for help - whether in your business, household, or schedule.
Redefine What Productivity Looks Like
Being busy isn’t the same as being effective. Work with your natural rhythms and energy highs.
Pro tip: Use the Ultradian Rhythm Method - 90 minutes of focused work followed by a 20-minute rest.
Rest Is a Power Move
Ambitious women don’t just hustle - they honour their energy. Prioritising rest allows you to lead with intention, perform at your best, and build success that actually feels good.
So, what’s one small shift you can make today to reclaim your energy and focus? Your future self - and your career - will thank you.
