I know the importance of rest — so why can’t I do it?

Ironically, I thought about the subject of this column — the importance of rest — a couple of weeks ago while running in Seattle, a city known for its frequent rainfall. I was preparing for the Virtual Marine Corps Marathon 10K (MCM10K), which was scheduled for the following day. I decided to do the practice run after enduring 24 hours of agony due to a pinched nerve, which finally receded. It rained heavily, and I don’t particularly enjoy running in the rain. I felt uncomfortable and increasingly nervous about the 6.2 miles I was going to run the next day. However, I ended up running 6.5 miles the next day and felt really good.

The day after the Virtual MCM10K, I began to feel unwell. Then I went on a 5-mile hike with a 2,000-foot elevation gain in Washington state’s Olympic National Park. Throughout that week, I averaged about five to six hours of sleep per night. After a week of highly active days, my body finally gave in, and I felt physically exhausted. I noticed signs of a cystic fibrosis (CF) exacerbation. Despite six years of stability on the medication Trikafta (elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor), I am fully aware of what an exacerbation feels like. I realized I had no choice but to rest.

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I understand that rest is essential. I know I should get enough sleep and listen to my body, even if that means sometimes not completing everything I had planned for the day. I am aware that rest is crucial to prevent injury, burnout, and even anxiety and depression. So, if I understand all of this, why is it still so difficult for me to give myself that grace?

At one point last year, I half-jokingly told my therapist that I “enjoyed” being sick. It wasn’t that I wanted to be ill — sickness is miserable — but rather it was an acknowledgment that being unwell was the only time I allowed myself to rest. I wore my busyness like a badge of honor, as though it were “cool” that I never relaxed unless I was physically incapacitated. In retrospect, I hadn’t realized that everything in life comes with a trade-off. The trade-off I’ve ignored for so long is that if I want to push myself, then I also need to rest.

I need to give myself permission to rest. By granting myself that permission, I can let my guard down and feel less pressured to push myself.

In life, I believe there is value in pushing ourselves and learning to be resilient. Pushing our limits reveals insights into who we are and what we’re capable of. Often, it’s through these challenges that we grow and find greater fulfillment.

However, nothing is entirely good or bad. The downside of always pushing ourselves is that we may neglect the need for rest. On the other hand, excessive rest can lead to a sedentary lifestyle, which carries its own risks.

This understanding of trade-offs helps me reassess my relationship with rest. By choosing to push myself too hard, I’m also choosing to forgo rest. This new perspective isn’t meant to be punitive but rather to shift away from the mindset of “earning rest.”

By understanding all of this, I can better discern when I should push myself and when I should rest — long before my body makes that decision for me.

Columnist Tré LaRosa captures a spectacular view of Lake Crescent in Washington state’s Olympic National Park during a 5-mile hike. (Photo by Tré LaRosa)

Note: Cystic Fibrosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cystic Fibrosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to cystic fibrosis.