The Guilt of Stillness - When Rest Feels Indulgent
The Lawyer Life Podcast
This week, I’m digging into something I coach on almost daily: the guilt that shows up when we try to rest.
If you’ve ever cut back your hours, taken a lower-stress role, or finally cleared some space in your schedule—only to find yourself unable to relax—you’re not alone. In this episode, I explore why ambitious women, especially lawyers, often struggle with stillness. We’ll talk about where this guilt comes from and how deeply ingrained productivity culture—and our internalized beliefs about worth—can steal our peace.
So many of us tell ourselves we’ll rest once everything is done. But the truth is, rest rarely feels earned, and the goalposts just keep moving. I’ll help you start unpacking the stories behind your guilt and offer a gentle reminder: you don’t need to hustle harder to deserve rest. You are allowed to rest—right now, in the mess, with the to-do list still looming.
💬 In this episode, I talk about:
- Why rest often triggers guilt and self-judgment
- How our beliefs around worthiness and productivity get shaped
- The cultural and professional pressures women face around overachieving and overgiving
- How to begin disrupting the guilt cycle and reclaiming rest as a basic need
📝 Reflection Questions to Explore:
- What do I believe rest says about me?
- When do I feel the most guilt about doing nothing?
- What stories or beliefs are behind those feelings?
📥 Want to take this work further?
If this episode resonated with you and you’re ready to create more independence in your practice, check out my Finding and Securing Legal Clients Workbook. It’s a step-by-step guide to help you start building your own client base—on your terms—so you can say no to what doesn’t serve you and yes to what does.
You can download it instantly at thelawyerlifecollective.com under the Downloads & Freebies section.
👩💼 Want to join my next live workshop?
We’ll go even deeper into how to build your legal brand, find aligned clients, and grow your practice with confidence. Just shoot me an email at autumn@thelawyerlifecollective.com with the subject line “Independence” and I’ll make sure you’re on the list for more details.
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