Day 38: Learning to Rest Without Guilt

The Discipline of Doing Less

I woke up early today, tired again from sleeping late. My body’s been sending me the same message for days now: slow down. Still, the cold shower didn’t miss its mark. It’s second nature at this point, my morning reset button. The shock of water biting into my skin feels like a small victory every morning, a reminder that control begins in the smallest decisions.

I skipped the Wim Hof breathing today. Not on purpose, just forgot. It’s still a new habit, something that hasn’t yet rooted itself in my rhythm. But that’s alright. Discipline is built through the stumbles too, one missed breath at a time.

School was uneventful, just the usual grind. The projects, though, ate most of my focus. Not particularly hard, just draining. The kind of work that chips away slowly at your energy. I reminded myself that even small responsibilities count as training, not for the body but for patience.

By the time I got home, I was worn out. I took a long nap, woke up, and ate a solid meal. I knew there would be no training today. My legs still carried the soreness of the past week, and honestly, my mind needed to switch off too.

A Quiet Reset

It’s strange how uncomfortable rest can feel when you’re used to movement. There’s an itch in the stillness, a whisper that says, “You’re falling behind.” But today, I chose to ignore that voice. I let my body breathe.

No stretching, no cardio, no shadowboxing. Just stillness. I watched martial arts videos, studied movement and technique, took notes mentally, and planned for what’s next. That in itself felt like progress, invisible but necessary.

The biggest shift today came when I updated my training schedule. I’ve been feeling the need to add more structure, more Jiu-Jitsu, more balance. So, I made the change:

• Saturday: 6–7 a.m. Boxing | 6–7:30 p.m. Jiu-Jitsu | 8–10 p.m. Muay Thai

• Sunday: 8–9 p.m. Wrestling | 9–10:30 p.m. MMA

• Monday: Rest

• Tuesday: 8–9 p.m. Wrestling | 9–10:30 p.m. MMA

• Wednesday: 6–7 p.m. Jiu-Jitsu | 7:30–9 p.m. Boxing

• Thursday: 8–9 p.m. Wrestling | 9–10:30 p.m. MMA

• Friday: Rest

Just seeing it laid out like that gave me a sense of purpose. Structure is freedom; it removes the daily debate of “should I or shouldn’t I.”

Reflection and Recovery

Today reminded me that recovery isn’t the opposite of progress; it’s what sustains it. My body needs these pauses as much as my mind does. Fatigue doesn’t just come from movement, it comes from pressure, routine, and mental weight too.

Sometimes, the best way to move forward is to stop long enough to gather strength.

Stillness Is Strength

Day 38 complete. No sweat, no sparring, just stillness. But that, too, is part of the work. Progress often hides in recovery, and rest days test discipline in their own quiet way. The grind continues.

👉 How do you give yourself permission to rest without guilt? What does recovery look like in your routine?