Sometimes it takes being unwell to remind us that we don’t always have to be doing something. After a couple of days recovering from a bug, I came across a Danish expression: at hvile i sig selv, which translates as “to rest well within yourself”.
It’s the idea that real happiness comes from feeling comfortable with who we are, accepting where we are in life and finding a little contentment in the present moment. In Denmark, this is seen as the foundation of self-esteem: feeling good for who you are, not for what you do, and not needing validation from others. And yet, how often do we give ourselves permission to do just that, unless we feel we have no choice?
Learning to do less
We’re so used to filling our days with work, exercise, family, friendships, errands and the never-ending list of little things that somehow always need our attention. Even our downtime can become another chance to achieve something when we track our steps, count our hours of sleep and try to make every spare moment productive.
Sometimes we become so focused on what we’re doing that we forget how we’re feeling. Being unwell forced me to slow down. This week, resting well within myself meant cancelling my early morning gym classes, staying at home and enjoying homemade meals. Nothing remarkable. Just listening to what my body needs and allowing myself the time to recover. And that feels like enough.
You don’t have to earn your rest
So often we feel the need to justify taking a break. Perhaps it’s because we’ve come to associate being busy with being successful, or because doing nothing can leave us feeling guilty. But rest isn’t a reward for completing everything on our to-do list.
Rest is part of looking after ourselves. It’s recognising that we have limits, that our needs change from day to day and that we don’t have to operate at full capacity all the time. Sometimes we need an early night. Sometimes it’s changing a plan without feeling the need to apologise. The important thing is learning to recognise what we need, rather than what we think we should be doing.
Finding contentment in the everyday
One of the things I love about the Danish approach to wellbeing is its appreciation of life’s simpler pleasures. Hygge, the feeling of comfort, cosiness and togetherness, can be found in the most ordinary moments. At hvile i sig selv adds a gentle reminder that contentment starts within us.
It’s about feeling good about who we are, rather than measuring our worth by what we accomplish or seeking reassurance from others. That doesn’t mean we never have doubts, difficult days or moments when we need a little encouragement. It simply means recognising that our worth doesn’t depend on being productive, pleasing others or getting everything right. We can be a work in progress and still be perfectly entitled to enjoy the moment we’re in.
Sometimes that means putting your phone away and being fully present. Sometimes it’s making time for something you enjoy simply because it makes you happy. And sometimes it’s giving yourself permission to have a quiet day without feeling that you should be doing more. These little moments might not look like much from the outside, but they can make a real difference to how we feel on the inside.
A little reminder to rest well
At JustBe Botanicals, I’ve always believed that wellbeing is about how we care for ourselves, how we make space to pause and how we find a little balance in our everyday lives. That’s why our products are organised around how you'd like to feel, rather than a list of problems to fix.
Our senses can help us reconnect with the present moment, whether that’s through the a soothing skincare ritual or a comforting cup of herbal tea. If you’re looking for a gentle place to start, our Pure collection is made for exactly this kind of pause. These small rituals won’t make life’s demands disappear, but they can offer a moment to slow down and check in with ourselves.
So if you’re feeling tired, overwhelmed or simply in need of a little breathing space, consider this your reminder that you don’t have to earn the right to rest. You don’t have to be productive every minute. You don’t have to say yes to everything. And you certainly don’t have to wait until you’re unwell to give yourself permission to slow down.
Sometimes the most worthwhile thing we can do is listen to ourselves and respond with a little kindness. This morning, that meant skipping the gym and making time for rest. Tomorrow, it might mean something entirely different.
What does resting well within yourself mean to you?
Maybe it’s a quiet morning, a walk without a destination or an evening with nothing planned. Whatever it looks like, I hope you can find a little time for it this week.
Sometimes feeling good isn’t about doing more. It’s about being comfortable enough with ourselves to know when we’ve done enough. And allowing ourselves space and time to JustBe.