The Survivors Chair

Episode 24 - The Art of Doing Less


Listen Later

After years of overperformance and survival mode, Kim shares one of her hardest lessons yet  learning the art of doing less. 

From cancer fatigue to the guilt of resting, this honest solo episode explores what happens when the body says “no more” and how rest becomes its own form of healing. 

If you’ve ever tied your worth to productivity, this is your reminder that slowing down isn’t weakness... it’s wisdom.



What we cover

  • The myth of “just push through” and why high achievement can mask unresolved trauma
  • Cancer fatigue, body signals, and the cost of ignoring “no more”
  • Rest as medicine: how repair actually happens when you’re still and sleeping
  • Why slowing down brings up emotions (and what to do with them)
  • Identity after overperformance: Who am I if I’m not the fixer/leader/caretaker?
  • Making rest feel safe for a trauma-shaped nervous system
  • Tiny, doable shifts: one thing a day that truly matters to you

Key takeaways

  • Resting is not laziness—it’s physiological repair and nervous-system regulation.

  • Overperformance often equals survival strategies, not sustainable success.

  • Emotions surface in stillness; meet them with breath, not busyness.

  • You don’t have to relive trauma to heal; work with the body’s present-moment cues.

  • Start small: one supportive action today (walk, 15 extra minutes in bed, journaling).

  • Your timeline is yours. Being “late” is better than being unwell.

Try this (simple practices)

  • 4-4-4 Breath: Inhale 4 seconds, hold 4, exhale 4 (add sound on the exhale to help release emotion). Repeat 3–5 times.

  • Body scan cues: Jaw unclench, drop shoulders, soften belly, notice breath.

  • One-thing rule: Choose one meaningful action daily just for you (not people-pleasing).

  • Reframe check-in: “Is this what I want—or what I think I should do?”

  • Micro-rest menu: 20–30 min couch reset, gentle journaling, hypnosis/soothing audio, light movement (e.g., rebounding/trampoline dance).

  • trauma, rest and recovery, overachiever, burnout, self-worth and rest, nervous system, slowing down, survival mode recovery, breast cancer, adoptee, entrepreneur, leadership






  • ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    The Survivors ChairBy Kim Russell

    • 5
    • 5
    • 5
    • 5
    • 5

    5

    5 ratings