When was the last time you felt truly relaxed, not just “done with your to-do list,” but relaxed in your body?

As we step into a new year, many of us feel the pressure to add more: new goals, new habits, new resolutions. But after a busy holiday season, that can feel like the last thing we need.

In this episode, I’m inviting you to consider a different approach: instead of asking what you want to add this year, what if you asked what you could gently subtract?

I also share a bit of personal context about why this episode matters so much to me right now, including the importance of intentionally creating pauses when life delivers unexpected loss or emotional weight. Ignoring grief or exhaustion doesn’t make it disappear; it just shows up later, louder.

We’ll talk about why genuine rest doesn’t come from vacations alone, but from boundaries, and how those boundaries can exist in small, everyday ways. You’ll hear why “white space” isn’t laziness or wasted time, but a commitment to presence, creativity, and emotional regulation.

Through real-life examples, research-backed insights, and a simple experiment you can try this week, this episode will help you rethink rest, productivity, and what it means to actually experience your life, not just manage it.

Inside this episode, we explore:

✨ Why January motivation often clashes with post-holiday exhaustion

✨ The difference between being busy and being mentally preoccupied

✨ How boundaries, not location, create true relaxation

✨ Why white space improves creativity and problem-solving

✨ How to build small “mini pauses” into everyday life

✨ What to do when rest triggers guilt or discomfort

✨ A simple, non-performative way to experiment with rest this week

This episode is a gentle reminder that rest and achievement are not opposites, they support each other. And that slowing down isn’t falling behind; it’s how you come back to yourself.

As you begin this new year, my hope is that you’ll give yourself permission to press pause, not someday, but this week.

Want to get a snapshot of your own life in just minutes? Take the free Prior 10 Life Assessment at www.prior10.com/assessment.

The information contained and documents referenced in the podcast “Your Priority Centered Life” are for entertainment, educational and informational purposes only, and are not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, professional medical or health treatment, diagnosis, or advice. We strongly encourage listeners to consult with medical providers or qualified mental health providers with issues and questions regarding any physical and/or mental health symptoms or concerns that they may have. Furthermore, the opinions and views expressed by podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates are not necessarily those of the podcast host. Dr. Alise Murray’s opinions and views are expressed in her individual capacity and are not to be construed as those of any of her podcast guests, partners and/or affiliates.