Opt Into Rest: How Black Women Can Protect Their Peace in Chaotic Times

In this episode of Black Girl Burnout, Kelley invites you to step away from the constant noise of the news cycle and social media to reclaim rest, joy, and nervous system regulation. In a world that feels heavy and overwhelming, she reminds us that rest is not weakness—it’s resistance. This conversation is both a pause and a practice: an invitation to slow down, honor your body’s signals, and remember that choosing ease is a radical act of survival.

Key Takeaways:

• Rest is resistance—it disrupts hustle culture and allows your body to reset.
• Black women often default to overwork as a trauma response, but it keeps the nervous system stuck in stress.
• Chaos in the world cannot be solved by hustling harder; rest is the counterintuitive answer.
• Practical rest can look like logging off, doing nothing, or giving yourself permission to stop.
• Joy and nervous system regulation are not luxuries—they are essential for resilience.

Episode Highlights:

00:39 – Why chaos leaves Black women’s nervous systems on high alert

03:44 – Overwork as a trauma response: why “doing more” doesn’t heal

05:23 – The limits of hustle culture in unsafe or unstable times

07:18 – Kelley’s own journey of unlearning the impulse to fight and do

08:58 – Rest as resistance: what it looks like in daily life

09:57 – Practical examples of rest—logging off, pausing, reclaiming stillness

11:25 – Developing your personal rest toolkit (5–10 practices you can use right away)

13:01 – Guided meditation for calm and nervous system reset

Gentle Reflection Prompt:

What does rest as resistance look like in your life right now?

If this episode brings you relief, share it with someone who may be caught in the cycle of doing more when their body is begging for rest. And don’t forget to leave a review—it helps other Black women find the show and reclaim their joy.

Support the Show

Are you experimenting with new ways to rest? Whether it’s saying no to one more obligation, shutting your laptop at 5 p.m., or taking a slow walk with no agenda, capture that moment of ease. Share it with us:

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