Author: Andrea Jayatilleka
Executive Leadership Coach | ICF Coach Trainer | Director of Smart Quest | Coach Masters Academy Regional Director for Southeast Asia l Mentor Coach | Certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | NLP Practitioner | DiSC Certified Trainer
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the tension between rest and the fear of rusting. You know the feeling—when life gets so busy that pausing feels like falling behind. But is that really true? Does stepping back mean stagnation, or could it actually be the key to moving forward?
I’ve come to realize that not all rest is created equal. There have been times when I’ve taken what I thought was “rest,” only to feel more depleted—scrolling on my phone or zoning out mindlessly. Then there are moments of intentional rest: deep sleep, a quiet walk in nature, or a few minutes of genuine reflection. Those moments don’t slow me down—they sharpen me.
The hardest part is trusting the process. Trusting that rest isn’t laziness, that pausing won’t make me irrelevant, and that renewal is essential for growth. The real danger of “rust” doesn’t come from resting—it comes from refusing to rest. Pushing too hard for too long leads to burnout, draining the clarity and energy we need to thrive.
So, I’ve started asking myself questions I now share with you:
Personal Reflection Questions
- What does intentional rest look like for me, and how often am I allowing myself to experience it?
- Do I feel guilty when I take time to rest? Why?
- How do I currently differentiate between rest that restores me and distractions that drain me?
- When was the last time I paused intentionally, and what impact did it have on my energy or clarity?
- What signs of burnout or “rust” do I notice in myself, and how do I respond to them?
For me, I’ve redefined rest as a strategy. When I intentionally take time to renew, I can show up with more focus and energy for what matters most.
Rest as Renewal, Rust as Neglect
Rest isn’t just a break; it’s an act of renewal. Stepping back gives us the space to reflect, realign, and re-energize. Far from dulling our edge, intentional rest sharpens us and equips us to lead with clarity and purpose.
Rust, on the other hand, isn’t about taking time off. It’s the byproduct of neglect—neglecting to engage, innovate, or grow. Rust creeps in when we confuse busyness with productivity or fall into cycles of inertia. Where rest is a way of caring for ourselves, rust reflects the absence of care altogether. Put simply, rest is an investment in resilience, while rust is the cost of stagnation.
How to Rest, Not Rust
The key to avoiding rust lies in intentional rest. It means approaching rest as a practice—a purposeful way to recharge, reflect, and refocus. This might involve:
- Setting boundaries around work to protect time for renewal.
- Dedicating moments for strategic thinking or creative problem-solving.
- Creating space for meaningful conversations with your team or yourself.
As leaders, embracing rest isn’t just about personal well-being—it’s about modelling a culture of renewal and vitality for others. When we prioritize purposeful pauses, we give ourselves and those we lead the tools to thrive, not just survive.
Here are some thought-provoking questions for leaders to reflect on intentional resting:
- Am I modelling a culture of intentional rest for my team, or do I unintentionally glorify overwork?
- How can I create space for my team to rest and recharge without compromising productivity?
- Do I encourage open conversations about balance, rest, and well-being with my team?
- How can I support my team in recognizing when they need to step back and recharge?
- What practices can I introduce to integrate purposeful pauses into our work culture?
Rest doesn’t hold you back; it propels you forward. It’s in these intentional pauses that creativity flourishes, insights emerge, and energy is restored.
–The way we pause shapes the way we move forward–
