ADHD and The Case For Rest

Groundhog Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. I was born in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and growing up about 15 miles away, it feels like a little piece of home shows up every year, even now that I live in North Carolina.

Phil famously does not enjoy being woken up from his winter nap. Honestly, relatable.

And that’s the lesson I want to talk about today: rest.

Rest Shouldn’t Feel Wrong

We’ve been conditioned to believe that rest is something we earn after we’ve done “enough.” Hustle culture tells us that if we aren’t pushing, we’re falling behind. For women with ADHD, that message often lands on top of existing shame around productivity.

But rest isn’t laziness. It’s regulation.

Why the ADHD Brain Needs Rest

Rest reduces mental fatigue and allows the prefrontal cortex to recover, improving planning and decision-making. It helps ADHD brains shift out of constant task mode and improves the ability to focus when it’s time to work. It also lowers nervous system stress, making us less reactive and less impulsive.

Rest isn’t optional for ADHD brains. It’s foundational.

Rest and Your Money

Here’s the connection most people miss: when your brain is exhausted, your financial self-control drops.

Rest supports:

• Fewer impulse purchases

• Better follow-through with plans

• Short, consistent money check-ins

Those five- to ten-minute check-ins are what prevent overspending, missed bills, and financial emergencies. Rest makes those habits possible.

Rest is a financial tool.

Permission to Rest

If you need a reminder today, here it is:

You don’t have to earn rest. More effort doesn’t always mean better outcomes. Pushing through exhaustion isn’t strength. It’s self-sabotage. Rest today so you don’t break tomorrow.

Rest is part of the cycle, not a pause button.

From Chaos to Control,