Recharge with these 5 Acts of Rebellion
Self-Care isn't bubble baths...although they don't hurt.
Burnout doesn't happen because you're just not "good enough."
You're constantly doing everything for everyone, and even when you feel a bit resentful, you shove the emotion to the pit of your stomach, plaster on a smile, and do it anyway.
That is life. Sorry, but it is.
Self-care isn’t bubble baths and big life changes. It's built through boundaries, prioritizing what matters to you, and moving in that direction, even if it doesn't look social media worthy.
This is how we reclaim our lives, our identity!
It's also the secret to regaining your energy.
1. The Unread Email Rebellion
Tiny Act: Flag the non-urgent, emotionally draining emails and decide you're just... not going to respond...today.
Unless it's your boss, and you're fired if you don't respond, odds are, nothing is actually on fire. If it were, they should have called, not sent an email.
Try this: Create an “Emotional Triage” folder. Move emails that you're not up for yet to the folder. Respond when you're ready. (Confession, I have email I've never read...)
2. Nope
Tiny Act: Say no to something simply because you don’t want to do it.
You're a grown-upno-stress. You get to do what you want with no explanation.
No excuses.
No “we’ll see.”
Just: “Thanks so much for the invite. I’m going to pass.”
Try this: Make a list of no-stresstime-out, easy things you don't want to do. Practice saying no to one of those things this week.
3. The Closed Door Policy
Tiny Act: Give yourself a time-out. Close the bedroom door and give yourself 10 minutes to do whatever you want. Flip through a book, a magazine, or just close your eyes and breathe.
Creating physical space helps reset your nervous system. That's boundaries. The kids will probably still be sitting at the door when you emerge feeling more human.
Try this: Hang a “Do Not Disturb Unless There’s Blood or a Fire” sign. Then honor it! Even if you feel guilty, it's just an emotion. You deserve alone time, too, and your kids deserve a rested parent.
4. Buy the Snacks You Like (and Hide Them with the Cleaning Supplies)
Tiny Act: Treat yourself to a snack you don’t have to share...and protect it!
Dark chocolate. Fancy trail mix. These are the treats that kids scowl at until they see you eating them.
So buy them. Then, hide them. Enjoy them in silence while pretending to reorganize the Swiffer pads.
Try this: Use an old Tupperware as a snack vault. Label it “Dust Rags” or “Tax Forms.” No one will ever look.
5. The No Productivity Zone
Tiny Act: Do something that serves zero purpose, on purpose.
Color. Close your eyes in the sunshine. Sit in the yard with your feet in the grass. The goal is not to achieve anything in particular. You're allowed to do nothing!
Try this: Set a timer. Let yourself reset. If guilt or anxiety creep up, let them be. They're just emotions. You still get to do nothing. You're a grown-up. There was supposed to be a benefit to being a grown-up!
Leave a comment and share your favorite quiet rebellion—bonus points if it involves treats, funny scenarios, or ignoring unnecessary emails.
Small Social Rebellions
You don’t have to make sweeping changes to feel better.
You need a few well-placed “no’s,” a secret stash of snacks, and the courage to reclaim five minutes of peace.
Homework:
Pick one act of defiance and try it this week. Notice any shifts in your sense of self.