You Don’t Have to Earn Rest

Somewhere along the way, we were taught that rest is something you have to deserve. Finish the list. Clean the house. Pay the bills. Feed everyone else first. Only then—maybe—can you lie down.

But I’m here to tell you: That’s a lie.

You don’t have to earn rest. You don’t have to trade your exhaustion for permission.
You don’t have to be productive to be worthy of stillness. Rest is a form of remembering. Of returning to yourself.

And for all of us—who carry the weight of schedules, service, and soul—rest is not a reward. It’s a requirement.

So what does self care look like? Maybe it’s a hot meal you make just for you—not thrown together scraps, not leftovers, but something seasoned with intention.

Maybe it’s a cup of tea drunk slowly, a bowl of broth you don’t have to share, a soft place to land in the middle of your battle.

Care doesn’t always look like stillness. Sometimes it looks like feeding your body with the same reverence you give to everyone else.

You don’t owe the world your constant presence. You owe yourself the breath it takes to rise again.

And if you need a place to begin, start with a cup of chai.

My Quick Chai for One

1 cup water
½ cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
1 tsp loose black tea (or 1 tea bag)
2–3 crushed cardamom pods
A slice of fresh ginger or a pinch of dried
A few fennel seeds (optional)
1 clove (optional)
A tiny pinch of cinnamon
A crack of black pepper
Sweetener to taste (jaggery, honey, sugar—whatever feels like home)
Bring water, spices, and ginger to a simmer. Let it simmer into something fragrant.
Add tea and steep 2–3 minutes.
Add milk and sweetener, bring gently to a boil.
Strain into your favorite cup.
Sit. Sip. Rest.

You made this. Just for you. That counts.

No cardamom pods? No clove? Don’t stress. A bit of ginger, a dash of cinnamon, a crack of pepper—use what you have. This is about care, not perfection. Chai was made to adapt, just like you.