You’re Tired. But When Was the Last Time You Actually Rested?

We’ve become really good at complaining about how tired we are. But have we become terrible at protecting our rest?

Something I’ve been noticing lately genuinely upsets me.

The number of people who sit at their desks eating lunch while continuing to work.

Answering emails between bites. Taking phone calls during their break. Rushing through their food because there’s always something else that needs to be done.

And then wondering why they’re exhausted.

I hear people talking about how tired they are all the time. How busy work is. How they never seem to have enough hours in the day.

And I get it. Life is busy. Workplaces are demanding. There are deadlines, responsibilities, families and a never-ending list of things that need our attention.

But I also wonder how much of our exhaustion comes from the fact that we’ve forgotten how to say no.

Or perhaps we’ve become so uncomfortable with setting boundaries that we’d rather sacrifice our own wellbeing than risk disappointing someone else.

When I Was Training for the Olympics, Rest Was Non-Negotiable

When I was training for the Olympics, I guarded my sleep.

Fiercely.

I said no to social events. I turned down invitations. I made decisions about where I spent my time and energy because I understood something important.

My recovery was just as important as my training.

I couldn’t expect my body to perform at its best if I wasn’t giving it the opportunity to recover.

And nobody questioned that.

In elite sport, we understand that performance requires recovery. We don’t expect athletes to train at maximum intensity every hour of every day and somehow continue improving.

We recognise that rest is part of the process.

So why do we treat our minds so differently in the workplace?

Somewhere Along the Way, We Started Glorifying Exhaustion

We’ve created a culture where being busy is celebrated.

Where skipping lunch somehow demonstrates commitment.

Where responding to emails after hours makes you look dedicated.

Where saying “I’m so exhausted” has become an everyday conversation starter.

But here’s what I want you to consider.

Are you actually being productive, or have you just become really good at being busy?

Because answering another five emails before you leave the office doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve achieved more.

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is close your laptop, go outside, eat your lunch without distractions and give your brain a break.

You might come back with a clearer perspective, a better solution or the ability to make a decision that felt impossible an hour earlier.

Boundaries Aren’t Selfish. They’re Necessary.

I think this is where so many of us struggle.

We don’t want to let people down.

We don’t want to be seen as difficult, lazy or uncommitted.

So we say yes.

Yes to another meeting. Yes to another task. Yes to staying back just a little longer.

And slowly, without even realising it, we teach ourselves that everyone else’s needs are more important than our own.

Of course, not everyone has the same freedom to set boundaries. Some workplaces make it incredibly difficult, and employers have a responsibility to create environments where people can actually take their breaks.

But where we do have a choice, we need to start exercising it.

Because every time you say yes to something, you’re potentially saying no to something else.

And sometimes that something else is your own wellbeing.

Rest Isn’t Just About Getting Eight Hours of Sleep

It’s also about the small moments throughout your day.

Taking your full lunch break.

Stepping away from your desk.

Going for a short walk.

Sitting outside without your phone.

Giving yourself permission to stop thinking about work for a moment.

And actually finishing work when your workday is done.

These things might seem small, but they matter.

You don’t have to wait until you’re completely burnt out to justify taking a break.

You don’t need to reach exhaustion before you deserve recovery.

And you certainly don’t need to prove how hardworking you are by constantly sacrificing yourself.

My Challenge to You This Tuesday

The next time you find yourself telling someone how exhausted you are, I want you to ask yourself:

What boundaries am I not protecting?

Is there something you could say no to?

Could you take your lunch break away from your desk?

Could those five emails wait until tomorrow?

Could you give yourself permission to rest without feeling guilty?

When I was an Olympian, I understood that protecting my recovery was part of being a high performer.

I still believe that today.

Because high performance isn’t about how long you can push yourself without stopping.

It’s about knowing when to push, when to pause and when to recover.

Rest isn’t the opposite of productivity. It’s what makes sustainable productivity possible.

And perhaps it’s time we started treating it that way.

Anna-Liza Mopio-Jane

Want to bring a different conversation about performance, pressure and wellbeing into your workplace?

As an Olympian, keynote speaker and breathwork coach, I share practical insights on managing pressure, protecting energy and performing without burning out.

For keynote speaking, workplace wellbeing sessions or event enquiries, contact hello@annalizamopiojane.com.