Rest. reset. recharge.
The Wellness Cycle Women Actually Need
I recently got married, and the lead-up to the big day was intense. There were hardly any moments to pause as I was in a constant state of go, go, go. When I did rest, it usually wasn’t by choice but because I’d crashed and burned from exhaustion. This left me feeling overwhelmed and dealing with the cost of hormonal imbalances. After the wedding, my honeymoon offered the luxury of uninterrupted rest, something I hadn’t experienced in weeks or possibly months. What it made me realise is how essential rest truly is, and how I need to prioritise it even after returning to “normal” life.
Rest is a term that gets thrown around, but for many, finding time to rest can feel like an unattainable goal in the chaos of everyday life.
In a world that glorifies being busy and constantly being on, slowing down can feel like falling behind. But the truth is, our bodies, minds, and hormones aren’t designed for nonstop output. Especially for women, rest isn't a luxury; it’s a non-negotiable foundation for health, balance, and longevity. For a long time I believed, as I’m sure many of us do, that rest equates to weakness, but what I have learnt is that embracing the rhythm of rest, reset, and recharge can support your energy, your cycle, and your ability to show up fully not just once in a while but consistently and sustainably.
This phrase, rest, reset and recharge, emphasises the importance of taking time for recovery and rejuvenation. I encourage you to step away from your daily demands to allow for physical and mental restoration, followed by engaging in activities that restore your energy and purpose. This can be applied to various aspects of life, from work to personal well-being.
These three concepts might sound like the same thing, but they each serve a distinct purpose in replenishing your energy and restoring your sense of self. Let’s explore how they work together to support your health and purpose.
Rest involves ceasing activity to allow for physical and mental recovery. It can take many forms: sleep, relaxation techniques like meditation and breathwork, mindful movement, and simply taking breaks from work or overstimulation.
But for many women, the types of rest most often missing aren’t just physical, they’re emotional and psychological too. We often lack alone time without demands, boundaries that protect our energy and the ability to do nothing without feeling guilt. It is important to remember that true rest supports recovery, cycle health, and nervous system regulation. It allows your body to exit “survival mode” and shift into healing and repair.
Simple ways to incorporate true rest, even in a full week:
Turn off notifications during meals or wind-down time
Create 10–15 minute “pause windows” in your daily schedule (no productivity allowed)
Say no to one thing this week and notice how it feels
Rest isn't laziness, it’s the foundation that allows you to show up as your full self.
Reset refers to intentionally changing your routine or environment to break free from automatic habits. This might include a change in scenery (even a walk in a new place), starting a new routine or habit schedule, reflecting on your fitness, nutrition, or sleep patterns or shifting your mindset through self-inquiry or new perspectives.
Think of this as a personal factory reset, only this time, you are the device, not your phone.
Ideal timing for a reset:
At the start of a new week
During your follicular phase (the time of new energy and motivation)
When you feel mentally or emotionally stuck
Tools to help you reset could include journaling or intention setting, a short digital detox, breathwork or nervous system grounding and cycle tracking to align your rhythms with your body’s needs.
Remember, reset ≠ overhauling everything. It's about recalibrating with compassion, not self-criticism.
Recharge is about actively replenishing your energy and motivation. While rest is passive, recharge is active. It’s about engaging in things that bring you joy, connection, or a sense of purpose. This could mean spending time in nature, immersing yourself in a hobby or creative project, connecting with those who uplift you or doing something that makes you feel more like yourself.
Benefits offered by taking time to recharge include stress reduction, improved mental health, and opportunities for personal growth and social connection. Hobbies provide a positive outlet for energy, promote creativity, and can boost confidence, self-esteem and life satisfaction. They also offer a break from daily pressures and can lead to increased happiness and a sense of accomplishment.
To make the most of a recharge:
Align your recharge practices with your menstrual cycle (e.g. try more social or energetic activities during your follicular or ovulatory phases)
Protect your recharge time like you would any other commitment, schedule it, honour it, and resist the urge to earn it
We’re often taught that stopping means falling behind; that if we’re not constantly pushing, we’re not progressing. But this belief keeps us in a cycle of depletion. It’s time to let go of the idea that rest is unproductive or that stillness equals stagnation.
We are not machines running on a linear timeline; we are cyclical beings. Our energy ebbs and flows, and rather than resisting this rhythm, we can choose to work with it. Living cyclically, whether through your menstrual cycle, the seasons, or simple intuition, is not only natural, it’s deeply wise.
To rest and recharge is a powerful investment in your future self. When we stop measuring worth by output and start embracing our rhythms, we don't fall behind.
We rise in alignment, stronger, clearer, and more connected to what matters.
When was the last time you truly rested, not because you crashed, but because you chose to pause? Share a comment, I would love to hear about your experience!