‘Tis the season for cold and flu…and entrepreneurs somehow feeling guilty for it (if you relate, this is for you.)
Here’s the pep talk I gave myself this week while I was down with a nasty flu, in case you need it too…
A message for all of us — entrepreneurs, parents, leaders, creators, humans juggling a lot:
We’re so quick to push through, to “just get it done,” even when our bodies are clearly begging us to slow down. We feel guilty for stepping back. Worried about the emails piling up. The clients waiting. The business depending on us.
But here’s what we need to remember:
Resting isn’t letting people down, it’s how we show up better for them.
Pushing through doesn’t help you get ahead.
You don’t finish more.
You don’t heal faster.
You actually prolong it, which delays the impact you’re trying so hard to make.
You can’t pour into clients if your cup is empty.
You can’t lead a team when your energy is drained.
You can’t serve at your highest level while running on fumes.
Your business doesn’t need the “push through” version of you — it needs the well version. The one with clarity, creativity, energy, and presence.
Rest isn’t selfish. It’s responsible leadership.
Taking time to recover doesn’t slow your business down.
It protects it.
A rested mind makes better decisions.
A healthy body produces better work.
A recharged leader scales faster than a burnt-out one ever will.
And here’s the part we often forget:
Feeling guilty won’t heal you faster, it only taints your rest.
So next time you’re sick?
Give yourself permission to pause.
Honour your body.
Let rest be part of the work.
Sometimes the most productive thing you can do… is nothing at all.
Here’s to recharging, rebuilding, and returning better than before.
Take care of yourself; the people who rely on you need that version.
— Madie
