Rest is Healthcare: What Your Body is Trying to Tell You When You are Running on Empty
It’s Day 3 of Women's Health Week and today we are talking about rest.
And we know what you might be thinking… I’ll rest when everything is done.
Most of us grew up with that idea somewhere in the background. That rest is something you earn once the kids are sorted, the work is finished, and the house is clean. That slowing down is a luxury, not a necessity.
But what if rest is actually one of the most important things you can do for your health? Not a reward at the end of a long day, but a genuine, non-negotiable part of looking after yourself?
That is exactly what today's conversation is about.
We sat down with Emmy Cox, acupuncturist and Chinese medicine practitioner, to talk about rest, stress, sleep, and what our bodies are trying to tell us when we are running on empty.
What she shared was grounding, practical, and a good reminder that rest is not something to feel guilty about. Watch the full conversation below, and keep reading for our key takeaways.
What does rest actually mean?
From a Chinese medicine perspective, rest is woven into every part of the day, not just the hours you spend sleeping. The body follows a 24-hour clock where each organ system has its own window to rest, rejuvenate, and restore. Rest is the moments throughout your day where you give your body and nervous system a chance to recover.
This means that rest does not always look like lying down with a book. For some women it is five minutes with a cup of tea. For others it is an hour of movement, a walk in nature, or time with their feet in the sand. The key is finding your version of rest and actually protecting it.
How stress gets in the way
Ongoing stress is one of the biggest things that disrupts rest. When we are chronically stressed, our nervous system stays wound up, making it harder to wind down, sleep deeply, or feel truly restored.
Emmy's advice is to start small. Even tiny moments of rest woven into the day can make a real difference to how your nervous system functions over time. You do not have to carve out hours, you just have to find moments.
Signs your body is asking you to slow down
Our bodies are pretty good at communicating when they need more rest. The problem is that as women, we are often very good at explaining those signs away.
Some things worth paying attention to:
Disrupted or poor quality sleep
Digestive changes or discomfort
Frequent headaches
Feeling constantly on edge or overwhelmed
Muscle tension or physical exhaustion
Difficulty switching off or concentrating
Feeling emotionally flat or depleted
If any of these feel familiar, your body might be asking for something. It’s worth listening.
One simple thing you can do tonight
Put your screens away before bed.
It sounds simple because it is. Screens emit blue light that disrupts your hormones, interferes with your sleep cycle, and makes it harder for your brain to switch off. Setting a simple screen off time each evening is one of the most practical things you can do for better sleep.
Simple ways to support your nervous system
Slow, intentional breathing: extending the exhale helps shift the body out of fight or flight
Gentle movement: walking, stretching, or gentle yoga
Time outdoors: even a few minutes can make a real difference
Creating moments of quiet: reducing stimulation during the day
Reducing screen time: particularly in the evening
Prioritising sleep: a simple wind-down routine can help enormously
Connecting with people who make you feel safe: safe relationships are deeply settling for the nervous system
When rest is not fixing it
Sometimes a woman is doing all the right things. She is sleeping, she is resting, she is trying to reduce stress, and she is still completely exhausted.
If that sounds familiar, it’s worth talking to your GP. Persistent fatigue that does not improve with rest could be related to iron levels, thyroid function, hormones, sleep quality, or any number of other things. You will not know until you ask.
Some signs that exhaustion might be worth investigating:
Fatigue that does not improve no matter how much you rest
Waking up exhausted even after a full night of sleep
Brain fog or difficulty concentrating that is getting worse
Low mood that lingers even when life is going okay
Physical symptoms alongside the tiredness, pain, headaches, or digestive changes
Feeling like your body is running on empty in a way that feels different to normal tiredness
You deserve to feel well. Not just okay.
Be the first to get our free Women's Health Guide
This blog is part of our Women's Health Week 2026 series. Throughout the week we are exploring five themes that matter for every woman's health, Fuel, Move, Rest, Breathe, and Connect.
On Saturday we are launching our free Magnolia Health Women's Health Guide, bringing together everything from the week and so much more into one practical, easy to use resource. Sign up to our mailing list to be the first to know when it drops.
About Emmy
Emmy Cox is a Dr of Chinese Medicine and acupuncturist at Willow and the Womb on the Sunshine Coast. You can connect with Emmy here.
This blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to replace advice from a qualified health professional. Please speak with your GP or a qualified health professional about what is right for you.