The Guilt of Not Working More When We’re Done for the Day

The Guilt(ɡilt) of Not Working More When We’re Done for the Day

By Leo Babauta

At the end of a day of work, there can be a simple practice of wrapping things up and shutting down for the day.

But so many of us feel guilty at simply stopping, and this feeling that we should be doing more … it drives some of us to keep going as long as we can.

This can lead to overwork, burnout, tiredness, and never letting ourselves enjoy a moment of rest.

Do you relate(rəˈlāt) to this guilt of simply stopping and resting?

The thing about this guilt is that it doesn’t have to be rational(ˈraSH(ə)n(ə)l) — it’s simply fear, that we’re not doing enough, that we’re not on top of things, that we’re not going to be OK if we don’t get everything done.

I know this fear well. I still have it, on a daily basis. It’s not rational, but then fear never is.

This fear will control us if we don’t bring a kind awareness to it, and start to work with it. It will own us, and we’ll always be checking our phones, replying(rəˈplī) to messages, stuck in perpetual(pərˈpeCH(o͞o)əl) motion. Rest becomes difficult, joy becomes mostly inaccessible(ˌinakˈsesəb(ə)l).

Here’s how I work with this guilt and fear:

  1. Recognize it when it’s happening.
    …
  2. Breathe, and feel it.
    …
  3. Remind yourself of a bigger truth.
    …
  4. Then take the rest.
    …

How would you like to practice with this for yourself?

https://zenhabits.net/guilt/