Rethinking rest: Psychologist warns society's view of rest is making us mentally unwell

702's Gugs Mhlungu spoke to resident clinical psychologist Dr. Khosi Jiyane.

Listen to their conversation below.

Many people associate rest with simply not doing anything, but real rest, says Jiyane, is more complex and far more necessary than we realise.

She highlights how society has been conditioned to value productivity over pause.

"We've pushed it [rest] to the fringe of society. Therefore, when you must bring it to the centre, you have to justify it...and even then, don't rest too much...because then that's associated with being sedentary, with being lazy, with being bored and so on. If you rest, you rust. That's one of the sayings, right? Ultimately, we rest in peace when? On our deathbed."

- Dr. Khosi Jiyane, clinical psychologist

True rest, Jiyane explains, must be holistic, engaging both the body and the mind. 

She says the key lies in intentional stillness and self-awareness, not expensive getaways or spa days. 

"Resting has been commodified. Somebody needs to benefit from me. There are things you need to pay in order to get that...and yet the simplest things are just to be..."

- Dr. Khosi Jiyane, clinical psychologist

Jiyane shares tips for true rest and mental recharging:

Rest is not just the absence of activity

• Real rest involves mental, emotional, and sensory recovery 

Disconnect deliberately

• Create intentional boundaries with your phone, email, and media to avoid information overload 

Rest must be protected 

• treat rest time as sacred and non-negotiable, just like any important appointment 

Don’t feel guilty for resting 

• society conditions us to equate rest with laziness, but it's a biological and psychological need 

Guard what you consume

• not just food, but media and information too. Too much can create internal “noise” and anxiety 

Train the 'muscle' of stillness 

• learn to “just be” without needing to do something constantly 

Mental tabs drain you 

• like open apps on a phone, constantly thinking about the world's problems, leads to burnout 

Rest doesn’t need to cost money 

• meaningful rest can be as simple as silence, stillness, or time away from devices 

Tailor your rest to your needs

• explore different types of rest: physical, mental, emotional, sensory, creative, and spiritual 

Reboot like a system 

• give yourself time to decompress and reset, just like a computer needs to restart 

Scroll up to listen to the full conversation