You're exhausted. Not just "I stayed up too late watching Netflix" exhausted, but that deep-in-your-marrow, soul-crushing fatigue that a weekend of sleep can't touch. We've been told that if we just optimize our calendars or buy a better mattress, we’ll finally feel human again. Tricia Hersey, the founder of The Nap Ministry, says that's a lie. Her book, Tricia Hersey Rest Is Resistance, isn't a collection of sleep tips. It's a manifesto. It’s a call to dismantle the systems that profit from our burnout.
Rest is a human right. It shouldn't be a luxury for the rich.
The Grind Culture Trap
Grind culture is a beast. It’s the constant pressure to produce, to be "on," to monetize your hobbies, and to feel guilty when you aren't doing something "productive." Hersey argues that this isn't just a personal problem or a bad habit. It’s deeply rooted in white supremacy and capitalism. Honestly, when you look at the history of labor in America—specifically the history of chattel slavery—you see where the idea that a body’s only value is its output comes from.
Hersey calls herself The Nap Bishop. She isn't kidding. For her, rest is a spiritual practice. It’s a way to reclaim your divinity from a system that views you as a machine. If you’re a machine, you don’t need a break; you just need maintenance. But humans aren't machines. We are soft. We are rhythmic. We need to dream.
Why We Can't Just "Self-Care" Our Way Out
Most people think of rest as a reward. You work forty hours, then you get to sleep. You finish your chores, then you get to sit down. Tricia Hersey flips this entirely. Rest is the foundation, not the prize.
The "self-care" industry is worth billions. It wants to sell you bath bombs and expensive leggings to help you "recharge" so you can go back to work and produce more. That’s not rest; that’s refueling. True rest—the kind Hersey advocates for—is about stopping. It’s about daydreaming. It’s about doing absolutely nothing for no reason other than the fact that you exist.
Dreaming as a Political Act
In the world of Tricia Hersey Rest Is Resistance, dreaming is a revolutionary tool. When we are constantly exhausted, we can't imagine a better world. We are stuck in survival mode. The system loves a tired person because a tired person is easier to control. They don't have the energy to protest, to organize, or to even wonder if things could be different.
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By resting, we create space for imagination. We start to see the cracks in the walls. We realize that the 40-hour work week isn't a natural law—it’s a social construct.
The Nap Ministry and the Power of the Collective
Hersey started The Nap Ministry in 2016. It began with public "nap installations" where people were invited to come and sleep in a safe, curated space. Imagine that. A room full of strangers just sleeping together in a world that demands they be busy. It’s a radical sight.
It’s important to understand that this isn't just about naps. While Hersey loves a good 20-minute snooze, she’s talking about a "rest-based lifestyle." This includes:
- Slow breathing.
- Staring out the window for ten minutes.
- Saying "no" to an invitation without giving an excuse.
- Sitting on a park bench without checking your phone.
You've probably felt that itch to check your notifications the moment you sit still. That’s the "internalized capitalism" Hersey talks about. It’s the voice in your head telling you that you’re being lazy. You have to unlearn that. You have to realize that "lazy" is a made-up word used to shame people into overworking.
Barriers to Rest: Acknowledging the Nuance
Now, look, let's be real. Not everyone has the same access to rest. If you're a single parent working three jobs just to keep the lights on, telling you to "just rest" sounds like an insult. Hersey knows this. She specifically centers the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) who have historically been denied the right to rest.
The "Resistance" part of her message is key. Rest is an act of defiance against a system that wants to drain you. Even if it's just five minutes of deep breathing in a bathroom stall, it’s a way to say, "My body belongs to me." It’s a micro-protest.
Practical Steps to Embody Rest
You can't just read the book and be "cured" of grind culture. It’s a daily practice of deprogramming. It’s messy. You’ll feel guilty. You’ll feel like you’re failing. That’s actually a sign that you’re doing it right—you’re bumping up against the programming.
1. Audit Your Relationship with "Productivity"
Start noticing how often you use the word "productive" to describe your day. Did you have a "good" day because you crossed everything off your list? Or did you have a good day because you felt connected to yourself? Try to detach your self-worth from your to-do list. It’s hard. Like, really hard.
2. Create a "No" Ritual
Practice saying no to small things. No, I can't jump on a quick call. No, I can't bring cookies to the bake sale. No, I don't want to go to that happy hour. Notice the physical sensation in your body when you say it. Is there tension? Breathe through it.
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3. Schedule "Nothing" Time
Put it on your calendar. Block out thirty minutes where you have no plan. Don't use it to catch up on laundry. Use it to lie on the floor and look at the ceiling. Or listen to the birds. Or just exist.
4. Connect with the Ancestors
Hersey often talks about how our ancestors' rest was stolen. When we rest, we are honoring them. We are doing the work they weren't allowed to do. This perspective shifts rest from a selfish act to a communal, ancestral healing practice.
The Future is Rested
We are currently facing a global burnout epidemic. Mental health issues are skyrocketing. The planet is being exhausted just as much as we are. The link between the exploitation of human bodies and the exploitation of the Earth's resources is direct.
When we stop, we stop the machine of over-consumption.
Tricia Hersey Rest Is Resistance is a guide for survival in an unsustainable world. It’s not a soft message. It’s a fierce, uncompromising demand for dignity. We are enough just as we are, right now, without doing a single thing.
Actionable Next Steps
To truly begin integrating these concepts into your life, start with these three foundational shifts today:
- Implement a "Digital Sunset": Turn off all screens one hour before you intend to sleep. This isn't just for "sleep hygiene"; it's to disconnect your brain from the constant stream of information and capitalist messaging. Use that hour to move slowly, stretch, or sit in silence.
- Identify Your "Rest Saboteurs": Keep a small notebook for two days. Every time you feel a pang of guilt for not being busy, write down what triggered it. Was it an Instagram post? A comment from a coworker? Identifying the sources of your internalized grind culture is the first step toward dismantling them.
- The Five-Minute "Nothing" Practice: Once a day, set a timer for five minutes. Do nothing. Do not meditate with an app, do not pray, do not plan your grocery list. Just sit. If thoughts come, let them pass. This builds the "muscle" of being rather than doing.