Permission to Rest: Transform your life with this self-help guide to teach you tips and tricks to be more calm, bring mindfulness into your every day and beat stress

by Ashley Neese

We all have the power to transform our lives from the inside out by simply slowing down.Resting is one of the most impactful practices we can adopt for self-compassion, emotional well-being, collective care, and environmental repair. When we take a few moments each day to pause, we are reclaiming the innate wisdom within our bodies and within the natural the wisdom of rest.

Permission to Rest is a timely manifesto and compassionate call to action. It is an invitation for you to pause, look inward, learn to feel your own rhythms, and value rest as a deeply healing, empowering, and spiritual way of life. This book is a revolutionary reminder that we have the power to transform our lives, our communities, and our planet from the inside out. It comes at a time when many of us are urgently being called to do so.

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 21, 2023

Reviews

[ghoulkeats · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

i don't feel like i learned anything new, that i didnt already innately knew, or could logically spin together from a little bit of critical thought.

the author seems to have a very narrow perspective on the topic that, at times, feels a little abelist and white-centric.

all in all, this was a pretty forgettable read for me...

[Abi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book! There were such great pieces of advice for managing stress responses.

I learned so much of the science behind stress and stress response, meaning I now understand why my mind and body react to stress in the way they do.

At the heart of this book, is learning to rest in a world that does not facilitate rest. Neese talks about the need for bravery of standing up to yourself, your friends, your family and your colleagues, and asking them to respect your boundaries when it comes to stress.

This was a really poignant read for me, as recently I have found myself in a pretty vicious stress cycle which I was struggling to make my way out of. I feel like this book has helped me to see the light when it comes to stress and has helped me to re-learn how to rest.

[Pippa Wright]

There is something amusing to me about speed reading a book about a self help guide giving you the tools to rest, be more calm and less stressed.

However that is what I did.

Is there anything new in this book that I didn't know already? No.
Is being told these strategies any different to discovering them yourself? No.

But.

Is being told them again, and being reminded why they are important causing harm? No.
Is being told them again, being reminded of the importance of rest causing harm? No.

Do we sometimes need to be told something 7x7x7x7? Yes.

Am I going to change anything in my life from this? No, cos I was already doing most of these, but it was a good reminder, a good "top up" and will allow me to remember the skills when they are needed.

[Elea Hart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book reminded me of the benefits of rest and the need for it for myself and others, the practical aspects were fairly non technical and didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know. I enjoyed reflecting on the biological and psychological aspects of rest. This book reminded me to take time to reflect on what rest might look like for me and how it might serve me.

[Xrysa Ser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some really good practical ideas, and a nice read but the second half was incredibly boring ans repetitive. This book could easily be half the size. I put 4 and not 3 stars just because it does give good advice that I haven't heard before, and I would read half of it again whenever I need it

[Nikki Prince · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it hard to keep interested in this book but the information points were good and I got some good tips from it.

[Vi · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 star. A good reminder that “resting” is one of the highest forms of self-care.

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing new in here unfortunately.
The first half was a nice reminder to rest but the second half was very repetitive and not super helpful. A lot of the ideas for resting rely on quite a high level of privilege and access to gardens, materials etc.

[Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws · Rating 3 out of 5]

Permission to Rest by Ashley Neese explores the importance of rest for personal well-being and broader societal impact. The book presents a compassionate case about how ‘rest’ is a vital practice for self-compassion and environmental repair. While the intention behind the book is commendable, aiming to remind readers of the transformative power of rest, it falls short in offering new or actionable insights.

The book’s strength lies in its reaffirmation of ideas that many readers might already be familiar with. The reflections on the biological and psychological benefits of rest are appreciated, yet they do not provide any substantial new information beyond common knowledge. The advice, though well-meaning, is often broad and lacks practical, detailed guidance on implementing rest strategies effectively.

Read the full review on Bookish Indulgences with b00k r3vi3ws