Embrace the benefits of slowing down

At the end of 2025, I found myself feeling guilty for resting. As a student athlete, I feel as if I should always be doing more. Whether that's working ahead on school work, going to practice, working, studying or working out, I try to get everything “done,” but the reality is, there is no “done.” Society pushes a culture that is obsessed with productivity, but productivity does not always equate with importance. 

With the new year, many people have set goals: eat healthy, work out more, improve grades, etc. I want to add an even harder challenge: to rest more. Social media can make people feel like they should be productive all the time. This can make me lose the value in what I already do. Of course, I want to be the best version of myself, but at what cost? I think people forget that social media is just a highlight of people’s lives and is not reality. Burn out is real and with this “go-go-go mindset,” it is inevitable. 

At the end of last year, everyday felt rushed. At one point, I vividly remember rushing out the door in the morning to the gym, rushing through my workout, speeding through making and eating breakfast, rushing to get ready and even rushing through my devotion: leading to this feeling of running out of time. It is exhausting. I needed to slow down, and I needed a change.

In January, I decided to quit energy drinks. There was a time I was having one every other day just to get by. First, it was on days I wouldn’t have coffee or when I had a long run. As basketball ramped up, I began having a coffee in the morning and an Alani drink before a game or practice. Even with all that caffeine, my body never felt refreshed when I woke up every morning. Because of this, I wanted to see if I could limit myself to one coffee a day and quit energy drinks for a month. Reflecting back on January, the month as a whole was completely different. I found natural energy from enough rest. Making it a priority to take rest days at least once a week, in addition to enough sleep and fueling my body with nutritious foods transformed my everyday.

Slowing down through my daily tasks has given me more energy to do my schoolwork, have good workouts and enjoy sports without feeling drained. I feel so much more energized. Challenging myself to stop rushing all the time has lowered my stress levels tremendously. God taught me how important it is to rest – He really had us in mind when He created the Sabbath. Without rest, how can we walk fully in the purpose He has for us? 

Hebrews 4:9-10 says, “So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who have entered into God’s rest have rested from their labors, just as God did after creating the world.” 

I want to challenge people to take a day off and to pause and reflect, prioritize slowing down during your everyday tasks. Realize at times resting is the most beneficial thing you can do for your body. Sometimes, in order to be productive, you have to do the “unproductive” thing which is rest.