#Radical Self Care

Calming Your Nervous System as Quiet Resistance

Finally, the quote becomes practical when translated into small, repeatable acts: pausing before responding, taking a longer exhale, going for a walk without a podcast, eating without multitasking, sleeping as a nonnegotiable, or limiting doom-scrolling to a defined window. These are simple moves, yet they reduce the “supply” of your stress that the world can exploit. Over time, such habits create a different baseline—one where you can notice manipulation, resist urgency as a default, and invest your attention deliberately. In that sense, calming your nervous system isn’t escapism; it’s reclaiming the conditions needed for freedom. [...]

Rest as Resistance in a Culture of Exhaustion

Moreover, Hersey’s statement suggests that rest has a communal dimension. If only a few people can rest while others are forced to grind, then rest remains a privilege rather than a right. A culture that respects rest must ask who is denied it through low wages, precarious jobs, caregiving burdens, or discrimination. When rest is protected collectively—through boundaries, fair labor practices, and mutual aid—it becomes a form of shared liberation. In that sense, resting can be both personal healing and a quiet solidarity with others who are fighting for the basic conditions to breathe. [...]