The Dignity of Being Tired: Give Yourself a Break
From Stillness in the Storms by Steven Webb
April 11, 2026 · 16 min · Episode 163
About this episode
This episode discusses the importance of recognizing tiredness as a signal from the body rather than a weakness, exploring cultural attitudes towards exhaustion and the necessity of rest.
Links to Steven Webb's podcast and how you can support his work. Donate paypal.me/stevenwebb or Coffee stevenwebb.uk Steven's courses , podcasts and links : stevenwebb.uk The Dignity of Being Tired: Give Yourself a Break What if tiredness isn't weakness? What if it's the most honest thing your body is telling you? In this episode, we talk about why we treat exhaustion like a personal failure instead of listening to what it's actually telling us. I share what it was like being Mayor of Truro, running on empty, showing up to every event because stopping felt like letting people down. We explore why busyness has become a badge of honour, why animals rest without guilt and we can't, and what actually happens in your brain when you don't get proper rest. This isn't about life hacks. It's about giving yourself permission to stop before you have nothing left. Key topics: Why tiredness is not a weakness but honest information from your body The culture of celebrating exhaustion as proof of commitment What happens in your brain during deep sleep and why rest matters Thich Nhat Hanh on how animals rest and heal without guilt Practical permission to disconnect and stop being on call…
People in this episode
Host: Steven Webb
Topics covered
- tiredness
- exhaustion
- rest
- mental health
- busyness culture
- self-care
Keywords
- tiredness
- exhaustion
- rest
- mental health
- busyness
- self-care
- Thich Nhat Hanh
- deep sleep
- permission to rest
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: paypal.me, stevenwebb.uk, Coffee
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