Rest Isn’t a Luxury...It’s How I Became a Better Leader...

Hyla Penn
Dec 17
2 min read

There was a time in my leadership journey when I wore exhaustion like a badge of honor.

If I was tired, I must be working hard. If I was overcommitted, I must be making an impact. If I was the last one to log off, I must be leading well.

But that version of leadership cost me:

My clarity.

My patience.

My peace.

It wasn’t sustainable. And it definitely wasn’t necessary.

The Shift That Changed Everything

What I’ve learned, and what I now teach leaders inside the Balanced Leadership Blueprint is that:

Rest is not something you earn. Rest is a power strategy.

When I finally stopped seeing rest as something that came after the to-do list was done, and instead started building it into the way I lead, everything shifted.

✅ I made clearer decisions.

✅ I communicated without resentment.

✅ I coached instead of micromanaged.

✅ I led from alignment, not adrenaline.

Burnout Isn't a Leadership Requirement

Leaders aren’t just responsible for results, we’re also responsible for how we get there.

And too many of us are getting there burned out, reactive, and emotionally drained. Especially during high-pressure seasons like the holidays, when family demands collide with end-of-year deadlines.

This is where leadership boundaries matter most. This is where self-care stops being a buzzword and becomes the system that protects your impact.