As we enter the holiday season this week, many of us are looking forward to time off. Yet how many of us have experienced that peculiar phenomenon of returning from vacation feeling just as depleted as when we left? Or finding ourselves "relaxing" with a screen during our downtime, only to feel more exhausted afterward?

I’ve consistently seen this pattern: we mistake leisure activities for genuine rest, then wonder why we still feel drained. The truth is, not all downtime is created equal. As we prepare for the holiday season ahead, here's how to find and protect the rest you actually need:

How to Make Space for True Rest

Step One: Recognize Real Rest

True rest is fundamentally different from leisure or entertainment. Instead of scrolling through social media, catching up on industry podcasts, or engaging in "productive" reading, real rest allows your system—body, mind, and spirit—to truly power down through conscious breathing, sitting in nature without an agenda, moments of complete stillness, or simple presence with loved ones.

Step Two: Map Your Restoration Pattern

Just as every organizational system has unique pressure points, each person has individual restoration needs. Pay attention to when during the day you feel most depleted, which activities genuinely recharge you (versus those that just distract), how your body signals it needs rest, and what kind of rest leaves you feeling truly renewed.

Step Three: Design Your Rest Architecture

Think of rest like the tide—it needs both regular rhythms and protected space to flow properly. Schedule rest before you need it rather than waiting for exhaustion, create clear boundaries around rest time, remove the "productivity guilt" that often accompanies true downtime, and build rest into your daily system instead of just reserving it for vacations.

As you prepare for the holiday season, remember: genuine rest isn't a luxury or an indulgence—it's an essential practice for sustainable leadership. The most impactful leaders aren't those who push through exhaustion, but those who understand and honor their need for true restoration.

One Thing to Ask Yourself:

"What's the difference between how I usually 'rest' and the times I've felt truly restored?"

One Thing to Try:

Identify one "fake rest" activity in your daily routine (mindless scrolling, background TV, etc.) and replace it with five minutes of genuine rest—complete stillness, conscious breathing, or simple presence. Notice how different it feels.

Until next week,

Lauren

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