Welcome to the 12 Days of Mindful Eating Series! Each week I am dropping three episodes in the month of December to help you eat mindfully and feel your best. This season is all about gratitude, love, kindness and giving – yet, we do that with the people around us, and not so much ourselves.

But when we change the way we think, we change the way we eat (because it’s not about the food)! 

In this episode, I’m talking about why rest is so important – and when we don’t do it, it can easily turn into a food binge.

We live in a society of hustle culture and go-go-go, and we wonder why we are burnt out and can’t stop eating. So let’s talk about why rest is productive.

How to Finally Chill Without Guilt

Welcome to the Food Freedom Society Podcast! Or as I like to call it, “the corner of the internet where we keep it real about food, self-love, and how to not let the hustle culture ruin your life.” Today, friend, we’re on day 10 of our 12 Days of Mindful Eating series—the last hurrah of the year! Cue the confetti cannons and holiday cheer.

This season is all about gratitude, love, kindness, and giving. Sounds magical, right? Except there’s one teeny-tiny catch: we’re great at showing those warm and fuzzy traits to others, but when it comes to ourselves? Not so much.

So, I’m serving up 12 juicy tips to help you change your mindset around food, your body, and yourself. Because here’s the deal: when you start treating yourself with kindness, everything—yes, even your relationship with food—starts to shift.

Let’s dive into today’s topic, which I personally still struggle with (and by struggle, I mean it’s my arch-nemesis): Rest and relaxation. Yep, good ol’ R&R.

Hustle Culture: The Bad Boyfriend You Need to Break Up With

Let’s rewind a bit. Once upon a time, I was a teacher. Spoiler alert: I hated it. So, naturally, I decided to jump into a corporate job in New York City, because, you know, what could go wrong? Fast forward six months, and I’d quit that too. Why? Because eating lunch at my desk while pretending to love spreadsheets felt about as fulfilling as a soggy piece of toast.

Everyone around me said, “This is just how it is. You grind now, and it pays off later.” But explain to me how crying on the subway every night is a payoff, because I wasn’t seeing it. So, I quit. And let me tell you, I was miserable. Like, ugly-crying-into-my-pillow-every-night miserable.

That experience left a mark. Even now, as a business owner, mom, and card-carrying member of Team Too Much, I’m terrible at rest. Sure, I’ll sit on the couch and pretend to relax, but in my head? I’m mentally reorganizing my kids’ clothes or debating which reel to post next.

The “Should” Spiral

You know that little voice that says, “You should be doing something right now”? Yeah, that voice is a jerk. The problem with “should” is that it’s basically a one-way ticket to Feeling Like a Failure-ville. And when you feel like a failure, what happens? You hit the “eff it” button and raid the pantry.

Let’s break the cycle, shall we? Rest is not lazy. Rest is not unproductive. Rest is literally how we recharge so we can be our best selves. You wouldn’t run your phone on 1% battery, so why are you doing it to yourself?

Practical Tips to Embrace the Art of Doing Nothing]

1. Start Small: If the idea of lounging for hours makes you twitchy, set a timer for 20 minutes. Use that time to do something just for you. Binge a silly show, take a bubble bath, stare at the ceiling—whatever floats your boat.
2. Reframe Rest as Productive: Remind yourself that rest is fuel. It’s what helps you show up as the amazing mom, boss, or human you are.
3. Create “Rest Days”: I’ve started scheduling days where I intuitively decide what I need. Sometimes it’s a walk, a manicure, or just reading a book in peace. Do I still feel guilty? Occasionally. But I’m working on it, and so can you.
4. Call Out the “Shoulds”: Every time a “should” pops into your brain, counter it with, “Nope, this is my time.” It sounds cheesy, but it works.

Why This Matters

Here’s the thing: If you’re running on empty, you’re not doing anyone any favors—least of all yourself. Rest isn’t just about feeling good; it’s about breaking the cycle of guilt, shame, and burnout that leads to emotional eating. So, give yourself permission to chill. You’ve earned it.

Follow me for daily tips on Instagram! @kellylwellness

Are you ready to stop overeating and finally be in control around food? Watch my FREE training How to Stop Binge Eating (Without Cutting Out Your Favorite Foods) to learn how it’s possible!