The Strength in Rest: Why Rest is Vital for Black Women
Media: GIPHY
Black women have always operated in this life, being presented as strong - even in our most vulnerable moments, we have been forced to keep going. “Keep going” has been demanded of us for generations, not freely given. We've had to be pillars of strength - for our families, communities, and ourselves - while battling the constant pressures of racism, misogynoir, and inequality.
The “Strong Black Woman” trope erases our full humanity. It ignores that even the strongest among us need care, nurturing, and times of rest. Presenting Black women as superhuman comes at a cost. This constant pressure to push forward no matter what takes a toll on our minds, bodies, and spirits. Chronic stress and lack of self-care threaten Black women's health and well-being.
We are more than the narrow strength demanded of us. We are multidimensional people with beautifully complex interior lives. Our strength is laced with vulnerabilities, weariness, and a bone-deep need for replenishment. For too long, we have not been afforded the space and permission to rest, restore, and care for ourselves fully.
Even in the worldly instances of the battles we experience in work, the struggle for work-life balance reveals society's failure to see and support Black women's wholeness. But there is power in rest and profound lessons to be learned as we push back. Radical self-care is essential for our survival and liberation. We are stronger for the work ahead when we make time for stillness, nurturing community, and activities that reconnect us with purpose. Our ancestors knew this, and Black women today carry that wisdom.
To date, we struggle with understanding rest as self-care. An important part of our liberation. Purposefully resting is a revolutionary act when the world demands so much of you. It sends the message that you matter, that your health and wholeness matter.
Rest reconnects us with ourselves, apart from all our roles and responsibilities. It allows our minds, bodies, and spirits to recharge. Rest is not a luxury; it is a necessity. And Black women deserve it. Yet true rest often feels out of reach.
The pressure to be strong and self-reliant makes taking time for yourself seem selfish or frivolous. But the truth is, we cannot pour from an empty cup. Regular and intentional rest allows us to show up as our best selves in all areas of life. It boosts mental clarity, energy, resilience, and overall health. Rest strengthens our capacity to care for others when we first care for ourselves.
For Black women, the struggle for work-life balance reveals the need for wholeness. While self-care practices like meditation, exercise, therapy, and vacations help, work-life balance is about more than “me time.” The problem is not just women trying to “do it all” or struggling to set boundaries. The deeper issue is that society sees Black women as endlessly resilient workhorses.
Sociologist Tressie McMillan Cottom notes that Black women face pressure to be “Superwoman” - to work long hours, care for family, and take on community roles while facing intersecting racism and sexism daily. The expectation is that Black women can handle anything. But no one can live up to superhuman standards indefinitely. The “Strong Black Woman” trope erases Black women’s full humanity, denying that we, too, need care and support.
In the truest sense, work-life balance requires dismantling harmful cultural expectations and institutional inequities that exhaust Black women in the first place. It means workplaces implementing paid family leave, flexible schedules, remote work, and policies that support caregivers. Society must see the fullest behind the Black woman - affirming her right to rest, joy, and creativity. And most importantly, it means Black women feel entitled to define success and happiness for themselves, apart from others’ demands or limiting narratives about who they should be.
The struggle reveals that self-care is not just about relief from stress. It’s the lifelong journey of learning one’s worth - that your dreams and inner life matter and that you deserve to take up space and time for yourself. It’s the daily practice of honoring your whole being, not just your roles or output. We rest to live fully and freely as our truest selves.
Black feminist Audre Lorde knew radical self-care was essential for Black women’s survival. She wrote: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence; it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” When rest, joy, and nurturing community are political acts, then wearing ourselves out for bosses, families, and social expectations becomes complicity. Lorde reminds us that preserving our lives sustains the fight for liberation. Here are ten ways to find more time to reclaim our time.
Set boundaries and learn to say no - Only take on what you can reasonably manage.
Ask for help - Delegate tasks to others when possible.
Prioritize self-care - Block off time for exercise, meditation, and massages.
Take regular vacations - Plan ahead and fully disconnect from work.
Spend time in nature - Outdoor environments can be calming and restorative.
Limit social media use - Set limits on scrolling to reduce stress and anxiety.
Wake up earlier - Enjoy quiet morning routines before the daily rush.
Go to bed earlier - Aim for enough sleep to feel well-rested.
Try streamlining routines - Reduce tedious tasks by organizing systems.
Find pockets of rest - Savor short breaks during the day, even 5-10 minutes.
The struggle continues. But more Black women are embracing the power of rest as resistance. We nurture circles of care that affirm our right to live fully. We set boundaries, delegating and outsourcing labor when possible. We reserve time for Stillness centering practices like meditation, prayer, and journaling. We find ways to rest, restore, and reconnect with purpose.
However, the lesson is clear: our health and inner freedom matter. When we care for ourselves, we are stronger for the work ahead. There is power in rest. Our ancestors knew this, making joy and community central to survival. Now, Black women today carry on that wisdom. Our well-being is the revolution. Our wholeness is the prize. Rest is remembrance - that before everything asked of us, we already are enough.
