When Rest Feels Like Failure (We’re Looking At You Perfectionism)

Why does rest feel unsafe? If you grew up in an environment where worth was tied to productivity, rest was rarely modeled as valuable. You may have been praised for achievement, but rarely for simply existing. Rest can then feel like wasted time—or worse, proof you’re falling behind.

The Productivity Trap

Perfectionists often struggle with:

• Guilt when doing “nothing”

• Resting but secretly multitasking (scrolling emails, making to-do lists)

• Comparing their leisure to others’ productivity

• Feeling only “earned” rest is acceptable

Rest as Resistance

You get to rewrite those unhelpful narratives. You get to decide when your brain is telling you a lie it heard from society. You get to take your power back.

Healing means reframing rest as part of a full, human life. Rest is not a reward for performance—it’s a birthright. It helps regulate the nervous system, fosters creativity, and allows relationships to thrive.

Reclaiming rest might look like:

• Scheduling it as intentionally as work

• Practicing saying “I’ve done enough for today”

• Choosing rest that feels nourishing, not numbing

• Naming rest as an act of healing, not laziness

At Found, we help clients untangle perfectionism’s grip on rest and build healthier rhythms of work, play, and stillness.

Offices located in Provo, UT | Online help available across Utah