Give yourself permission to rest and reset

A quote that reads,

Spring has always been associated with new beginnings. Flowers bloom, days get longer and the world feels like it’s waking up again. This year, I realized something deeper: true reawakening and renewal doesn’t begin when the season changes. It begins when your nervous system finally feels safe enough to grow.

At the end of 2025, I made a decision that felt both simple and radical: I stepped away from my business (and any form of work) for two weeks. Nothing was falling apart. There wasn’t a crisis. In fact, from the outside, everything looked successful. That was exactly the point.

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For years, my life had been about building.  

Building the business, building the next version of myself, building plans, goals and momentum. Growth had become my identity, and productivity had become my reassurance.

But somewhere along the way, I realized I had gotten very good at creating a life but not as good at actually being present inside it. So, I chose to interrupt the pattern before another burnout season forced the decision for me.

I stayed home for my break.  

No travel. No big plans. If you know me, you’ll know that travel and getaways are a form of renewal for me. I wanted this break to be deeper, though. I walked, journaled and picked up childhood hobbies that reminded me of what it felt like to be free from thinking about responsibilities. I spent quiet mornings without reaching for my phone. I let my days move slower than my habits wanted them to.

Early on, there was a moment when I felt a strong urge to open my laptop, just to check in and make sure everything was okay. I sat with my thoughts and reminded myself what this break was for. It’s crazy, but I almost had to force myself to rest! That moment showed me how many of us are so deeply conditioned to believe our value is tied to our output. That rest must be earned and that peace must be justified.

By the end of those two weeks, something had finally shifted. I put heavy thought into what it means to regulate and what that could look like for me. For me, regulation means rest isn’t something I earn after the work is done. It’s the state I return to first. It means joy is woven into my days instead of being saved as a reward. It means treating peace like a non-negotiable asset, not a luxury. It’s an internal shift that has stayed with me through the first quarter of this year.

At work, I no longer operate from urgency and pressure. Everything doesn’t have to be done immediately to be done well. In my relationships, I’ve learned to meet people where they are, not where I am or where I expect them to be. Just like I needed space to reset, others need room for their own process, too.

Personally, the biggest change has been internal.  

I’ve spent intentional time rebuilding my sense of self-worth from the inside out. Not from achievements, timelines or external validation but from the quiet confidence that I am enough even when I’m not producing. And now, as spring arrives, I realize something powerful: the season itself didn’t create my renewal. Rather, the intentional pause I planned did.

Faith has been part of this new understanding for me. I’ve been reminded that God doesn’t rush seasons. There is a time for planting, a time for resting, and a time for growth. When we try to live in harvest mode all the time, we work against the very rhythm we were created to live in.

So, I’m giving you the reminder I recently gave myself: you don’t have to wait for burnout to give yourself permission to reset. This spring, I’m not chasing growth. I’m growing from rest. Because, as I’ve just recently come to learn, the most meaningful renewal doesn’t come from pushing harder. It comes from finally feeling safe enough to bloom.

I challenge you to create your own form of reset, ideally for spring! What ways do you plan to slow down and recharge?

Raya Reaves is the founder and finance coach of City Girl Savings, LLC. She teaches women how to create and stick to realistic budget plans to reach their financial goals. Raya resides in Austin, Texas, with her boyfriend and two Yorkie dogs.