I let myself rest
and the world didn’t fall apart
You know those days when your body is like, "Nope. We’re done."
Yeah. I had one of those.
Lately, I’ve been feeling totally drained—mentally, physically, emotionally—just all of it. So I did something that’s surprisingly hard to do as a mom and small business owner: I let myself rest.
I stayed in bed longer than usual, didn’t check a single thing off my to-do list, and gave myself permission to have a duvet day. Which, if you’re not familiar, is basically a “stay cozy, do nothing, cancel everything” kind of day. (Highly recommend!)
Of course, with kids around, truly doing nothing is kind of a fantasy. But I slowed down as much as I could. And somehow, after walking the dog, I found myself accidentally gardening with my daughter. We weeded the front yard together, and it was weirdly soothing. Like… grounding in the literal sense.
It didn’t feel like a chore. It felt like exactly what I needed—a gentle nudge back into the present moment, out in the dirt, hands busy, heart quiet.
I filmed a little of it all and put together a soft, cozy vlog that’s less about doing and more about being. If you’re running on fumes or just craving a slower day, I hope it reminds you that rest is productive, too.
(And maybe watch it under a blanket with a warm drink in hand? Just a suggestion 😉.)
Let me know—do you ever give yourself permission to rest? Or do you, like me, tend to push through until your body waves the white flag?
Either way, I’m sending you permission to slow down today. You don’t have to earn it.
✌🏼Xuan
✨ Ready for a deeper reset?
The Cozy Life Retreat is a free 3-day experience beginning Tuesday, April 8—designed to help you slow down, let go of the busy, and reclaim your energy.
You’ll get:
Daily audio reflections
Gentle journal prompts
Optional meditations
And permission to rest—without guilt If you’re ready to stop running on fumes and start living more intentionally, this is for you.
It’s open to all of my Substack subscribers—free, paid, and founding members. If you’re already subscribed, you’re already in. Just keep an eye on your inbox.
P.S. Just a heads-up—my pricing is going up next month. If you've been thinking about joining but keep putting it off (no judgment, I do it too), now’s the time to get in at the current rate before it rises on April 7th.
This space is filled with thoughtful, kind-hearted humans who are craving less chaos and more intention—just like you. And honestly? It’s a cozy little corner of the internet I think you’ll love being part of.
So if you’ve been on the fence, consider this your gentle nudge (not a shove, I don’t do shoving).
You in?