Artwork for podcast Millennial Midlife
If Resting is Hard, You're Not Alone
Episode 124th December 2025 • Millennial Midlife • Cecelia Mandryk
00:00:00 00:21:41

Share Episode

Shownotes

What if the reason you struggle to rest isn’t because you’re undisciplined, but because your nervous system doesn’t feel safe doing it?

In this episode, Cecelia unpacks what’s really going on when rest feels impossible, even when you have the time. From unexpected 30-minute windows to full vacations, our brains often sabotage our rest with guilt, productivity loops, or inner voices whispering, “You should be doing something.” This isn’t about time management; it’s about identity, conditioning, and nervous system safety. If you’ve ever felt restless, anxious, or even guilty when trying to do nothing, this episode will help you understand why and how to start shifting your inner beliefs around rest.

Episode Resources:

Mentioned in this episode:

The 5-Minute Shift Mini Course

Learn more about The 5-Minute Shift mini course, a brain-based approach to feeling better now. It’s on sale for $29!

The 5-Minute Shift Mini Course

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube

More Episodes
12. If Resting is Hard, You're Not Alone
00:21:41
11. Your Brain Is a Yes-Woman and Your Beliefs Are Running the Show
00:24:34
10. When Family Feels Hard: How to Stay Grounded During the Holidays
00:24:13
9. Manifestation That Actually Works
00:19:30
8. Get Out Of Your Head
00:21:05
7. How Other People Feel Is "Their Business" (and Why That's Freedom)
00:24:51
6. Staying Calm When Life Around You Isn't: Navigating Holiday Stress With The Human Brain
00:23:31
5. The Not Enough Cycle: Why You Never Feel Caught Up
00:21:15
4. When Willpower Stops Working
00:15:08
3. Welcome to Your Crisis-Free Midlife
00:17:34
2. Breaking Free from "Should's": The First Step out of Autopilot
00:16:55
1. Is This All There Is? Welcome to Millennial Midlife
00:10:34
trailer Calmer Conversations is Now Millennial Midlife
00:01:41
56. Let It Be Simple: A Pause, A Shift, A New Season
00:10:48
55. Reminder: You Are Not Your Emotions
00:14:15
54. Self-Regulation as a Form of Activism
00:17:48
53. Why It's So Hard to Feel Your Feelings (And How to Start)
00:13:19
52. Letting Go of Right and Wrong: Living in Ambiguity
00:17:04
51. Two Questions to Help You Rewire Your Mind
00:17:40
50. Start with Your Nervous System, Change Your Life
00:14:33
49. You Don’t Need To Shut Your Brain Up—You Need To Get Curious
00:19:47
48. The 12 Core Pillars: A Personal Check-In for Real Life
00:15:18
47. Check In With You: A Gentle Monthly Practice
00:17:15
46. Before You Change, Notice What You're Choosing
00:12:32
45. What If You Didn’t Need to Fix Your Body?
00:13:08
44. When It’s Time to Let Go of ‘Good’ Things
00:17:15
43. How to Use Noticing to Shift Your Patterns
00:15:28
42. The Noticing That Actually Changes Things
00:14:50
41. Why You're Still Stuck (Even If You've Been in Therapy for Years)
00:14:04
40. How to Stop the Spiral and Actually Process Your Emotions
00:16:19
39. Change Doesn’t Have to Be So Hard
00:16:03
38. The Self-Love Work That Changes Everything
00:16:52
37. How to Create a Morning Routine That Supports You
00:15:45
36. How to Feel and Process Emotions in Real Time
00:13:23
35. What If Life Is More Beautiful Than I Can Imagine?
00:15:51
34. How to Stay Calm When Life Feels Out of Control
00:14:39
33. Healing Insomnia with Mindset and Mindfulness
00:15:19
32. Dreaming vs. Doing: How to Work With Your Desires
00:13:49
31. What College Football Taught Me About Failure, Growth, and Living in the Moment
00:19:28
30. Transform Your Mornings: The Power of Self-Talk
00:14:07
29. How to Use Goals to Support Personal Growth
00:17:40
28. How to Keep New Year’s Resolutions Past January
00:17:40
27. Progress vs. Perfection
00:23:42
26. Setting Goals That Work for Your Brain
00:15:49
25. The Art of Nourishing Yourself
00:21:17
24. A Deeper Understanding of the Nervous System
00:20:45
23. Practical Strategies for Overcoming Dread and Other Hard Emotions
00:17:13
22. The Brain-Friendly Way to Process Big Emotions
00:19:42
21. How to Feel Calmer During the Holidays
00:23:26
20. How You Talk to Yourself (and Others) Matters
00:16:02
19. How I’m Structuring My Maternity Leave
00:23:04
18. Creating Emotional Responsibility to Feel More Empowered
00:16:43
17. The Role of Identity in Making Change
00:24:05
16. Understanding Your Brain (The Motivational Triad)
00:24:16
15. What is Brain Based Change?
00:27:00
14. On Turning 40 and My 10 Year Reflection
00:24:40
13. Reframing “I’ll be happy when…”
00:21:35
12. Thought Work and Nervous System Regulation for Parents
00:21:22
11. How I Use Thought Work in My Daily Life
00:25:36
10. Real Thought Work vs. Toxic Positivity
00:18:44
9. Moving from “Silly” Thoughts into Curiosity for More Change
00:22:59
8. Bonus Skill #2 for Creating Calmer Change: Allowing
00:21:27
7. Bonus Skill #1 for Creating Calmer Change: Slowing Down
00:22:59
6. 3 Tools for Calmer Change: Curiosity
00:25:38
5. 3 Tools for Calmer Change: Acceptance
00:22:56
4. 3 Tools for Calmer Change: Awareness
00:25:29
3. Working With Your Nervous System for More Lasting Change
00:23:30
2. Ditching Shame and Willpower to Create Change That Feels Good
00:24:33
1. Rewiring Your Brain: How Thought Habits Shape Your Life
00:22:04
trailer Welcome to Calmer Conversations
00:02:41