Episode 145: Are you Proud of How Tired You Are? When Fatigue Becomes a Badge of Honour

Is your fatigue a warning sign—or a weird kind of proof that you’re doing “enough”? In this powerful solo episode, Erin explores the deeper emotional and cultural reasons why so many of us wear exhaustion like a badge of honor.

From personal reflections to insights from Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith’s Sacred Rest, this episode challenges the hustle-fueled mindset that says if you're not tired, you're not trying hard enough.

🧠 Erin explores:

• Why we cling to fatigue as evidence of our worth or effort

• The case of “Karen” from Sacred Rest, and what it reveals about resistance to healing

• Hustle culture, motherhood, productivity myths—and how they make us suspicious of well-rested people

• The emotional unfairness of rest: “Why should I change when I’ve already given so much?”

Plus, she breaks down four listener mindsets—from totally unaware to hyper-aware but still stuck—and offers one simple way to start reframing how you speak about your tiredness.

💬 If you’ve ever said “I’ll feel better once I get through this month”—every month for the last five years—this one’s for you.

Mentioned in this episode: 📘 Sacred Rest by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith

📊 IG Poll: “Where have you overspent your energy?”

📌 Your Rest Practice This Week: Try replacing “I’m so tired” with: “I’m noticing my energy is low—and I’m working on treating that like a signal, not a badge.”

💬 Let Erin know what “real rest” means to you over on Instagram @medium.lady—and share this episode with the friend who’s doing everything “right” and still wondering why she’s so tired.

 

This episode is part of our “Summer of Real Rest” series—time to call ourselves in to a true commitment to the soft work of feeling better one step at a time. 

 

🧡 If this episode resonates with you:

• Share it with a friend who needs a little extra encouragement

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more than you know

• DM me on Instagram @medium.lady or tag your favorite quote from the episode

• Subscribe for more real talk about building a life you love—one medium-effort step at a time

Looking for more support? Access exclusive content and mindful living tools on Patreon. 

Join the conversation! Share one need you're naming today and tag @medium.lady on Instagram.

The series starts here! Episode 142: The Summer of REAL Rest

Don’t forget to subscribe! If this episode resonates, share it with a friend or leave a review—it helps others find the show!

Other Related Episodes (for your enjoyment):

Episode 70: My Life-Changing Perspective on Having the Best Summer EVER

Episode 103: Four Questions to Free Yourself from Summer Stress Part One

Episode 104: Four Questions to Free Yourself from Summer Stress Part Two

Episode 106: Six Things Saving My Summer