Episode Summary:
In this episode ofUnwritten Chapters, we dive into the guilt many of us feel when taking a mental health day. Why do we reward overworking but feel bad about resting? I share a personal story about a recent family mental health day and explore why we associate productivity with worth, why we struggle to justify rest, and how we can start reframing rest as a necessity rather than a luxury.

00:00 – Intro & Personal Story

• The day my family and I took a collective mental health day
• My wife’s feelings of guilt afterward
• The question:Why do we feel guilty for taking care of ourselves?

05:30 – Why Do We Feel Guilty?

• The cultural glorification of overwork (“grind culture”)
• The pressure of responsibility and the feeling of “falling behind”
• The belief that productivity = self-worth

12:45 – The Double Standard of Overworking vs. Resting

• Why long hours are praised, but rest is seen as indulgent
• The real cost of never taking breaks (burnout, resentment, health issues)
• The irony:Working without rest actually makes us less productive

20:10 – Reframing Rest as Necessary, Not Indulgent

• Why rest isrecovery, not laziness
• The importance of mental health days for long-term well-being
• Science-backed benefits: How rest improves creativity, focus, and emotional resilience

28:30 – Personal Takeaway & Encouragement

• You do not have to earn rest. You deserve to take care of yourself.
• A reminder:You are not a machine. You are a human being who needs rest to thrive.
• Final thoughts and listener encouragement

✅ Hustle culture has conditioned us to equate rest with laziness—but that’s a lie.
✅ We feel guilty about taking breaks but don’t hesitate to overwork ourselves.
✅ Rest is necessary for mental and physical health, productivity, and well-being.
✅ You donot have to earn rest. You deserve it.

📖Related Blog Post:The Guilt of Rest – Why We Struggle to Take Mental Health Days
🎧Listen to More Episodes:Unwritten Chapters Podcast

💬 Have you ever felt guilty for taking a break? Let’s talk about it! Share your thoughts in the comments or DM me on social media.

🔁 If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who might need to hear it today.

🎙️Until next time—take care of yourself. You deserve it.

For more stories about personal growth, mental health,and living with PTSD as well as learning how you can publish your turn and turnyour trauma into a vehicle to help others, be sure to follow the podcast, andplease, like, share and subscribe to the Unwritten Chapters Podcast.

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Purchase my Books Here:

· A Medic’s Mind:https://a.co/d/aV77MDd

· Woven in War:https://a.co/d/b3L147d

In this episode of the Unwritten Chapters podcast (formerly A Medic's Mind), we’re revisiting the past to uncover how it helps in moving forward in life. Join me as I reflect on my very first podcast episode, sharing powerful paramedic stories and my PTSD journey. This mental health podcast dives into overcoming trauma, recovery from addiction, and the highs and lows of my paramedic experience as both a Canadian Army medic and civilian responder. With heartfelt storytelling, personal growth insights, and writing as therapy, this episode explores post-traumatic stress disorder, hypervigilance stories, depression, and the path to a sobriety journey. Perfect for veterans, mental health advocates, and anyone seeking a self-reflection podcast that resonates deeply with life’s challenges and triumphs.

For more stories about personal growth, mental health, and living with PTSD as well as learning how you can publish your turn and turn your trauma into a vehicle to help others, be sure to follow the podcast, and please, like, share and subscribe to the Unwritten Chapters Podcast.

Follow Me on Social Media or Send me a Message:

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unwrittenchapterspodcast/

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570235138813

· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Unwritten_Chapters_podcast

Purchase my Books Here:

· A Medic’s Mind: https://a.co/d/aV77MDd

· Woven in War: https://a.co/d/b3L147d

Discover how midlife growth can lead to incredible personal evolution and a fulfilling life after 40. In this video, I share insights into navigating fatherhood, embracing personal growth in your 40s, and finding meaning through midlife reflections. Explore how career stability, a parenting perspective, and life lessons at 40 shape your journey. From growing through decades to cherishing high school nostalgia, this is about reflecting on family dynamics, experiencing a mindset shift at 40, and embracing change. Learn how to find purpose, embrace midlife transformation, and prioritize personal development. Through self-reflection and your personal journey, uncover valuable life experiences, a perspective shift, and heartfelt fatherhood insights. This is a guide to core memories, overcoming parenting challenges, and achieving maturity and growth. Join me in understanding midlife, embracing an evolving mindset, and focusing on midlife reflections and growth to start rewriting your story.

For more stories about personal growth, mental health, and living with PTSD as well as learning how you can publish your turn and turn your trauma into a vehicle to help others, be sure to follow the podcast, and please, like, share and subscribe to the Unwritten Chapters Podcast.=

Follow Me on Social Media or Send me a Message:

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unwrittenchapterspodcast/

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570235138813

· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Unwritten_Chapters_podcast

Purchase my Books Here:

· A Medic’s Mind: https://a.co/d/aV77MDd

· Woven in War: https://a.co/d/b3L147d