Love Yourself with Ease that Liberates: 5 Mindful Strategies to Unbind from Capitalist Expectations

I don’t have to tell you we live in a society that rewards constant productivity and busyness. Taking time for rest and renewal is often seen as lazy or wasteful. Capitalism particularly discourages rest, instead promoting maximum effort and efficiency for profit.

In addition to capitalism, white supremacy being baked into every aspect of culture plays a role in discouraging rest and undermining downtime that care for our soul.

Below are five tips to help you reclaim rest as a sacred and liberating practice, untethered from the oppressive narratives of our society, hidden in hustle mentality.

Redefine Productivity Through Mindful Awareness:

Your worth has nothing to do with the state of your to-do list. It has nothing to do with how much you get done.

— Erica Layne

In a world that often measures our worth by our productivity, it's revolutionary to redefine what it means to be truly productive. Mindful awareness invites us to shift our focus from constant doing to being present in the moment. Embrace the notion that rest is not idleness but a crucial aspect of a balanced and fulfilling life. By mindfully engaging with rest, we challenge the capitalist narrative that ties our value to our output and recognize that our inherent worth is not contingent on our productivity.

Decolonize Your Schedule:

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

— Lao Tzu

The relentless demands of modern life, influenced by capitalism and white supremacy, often push us to overwork and burn out. Challenge these structures by intentionally decolonizing your schedule. Prioritize rest as an essential element of your daily routine, allowing yourself the time to recharge without guilt. Take your breaks and rest as serious as you do your meeting! In doing so, you resist the societal pressure to constantly be in motion and honor the wisdom of your body and mind, cultivating a practice of self-care rooted in mindfulness.

Cultivate a Mindful Relationship with Technology:

Just remember that those things that get attention flourish.
— Victoria Moran

In our digital age, technology can perpetuate a constant state of busyness, contributing to the capitalist notion that our value is tied to our constant engagement with work. Challenge this by mindfully approaching your relationship with technology. Set boundaries on when and how you engage with screens, creating dedicated periods of digital detox. I been using a productivity app recently that blocks certain app usage during specific hours of the day. This intentional disengagement allows for a deeper connection with the present moment and breaks the chains that tie us to a culture of constant consumption and productivity.

Practice Self-Compassion:

“If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete.”

— Jack Kornfield

White supremacy and capitalism often thrive on pushing individuals to their limits, creating a culture of perfectionism and self-criticism. Counter this toxic narrative by embracing self-compassion. Understand that rest is not a luxury but a necessity for your well-being. Be open to interrogating and releasing the guilt associated with taking time for yourself, and let self-compassion be the balm that heals the wounds inflicted by oppressive systems. In the gentle embrace of self-compassion, you find the strength to resist the harmful narratives that seek to diminish your inherent worth.

Connect with Community and Collective Care:

“Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation. Healing is an act of communion.”

— bell hooks

Embrace the power of community and collective care as a antidote to the individualistic values perpetuated by capitalism and white supremacy. Engage in practices that also prioritize the well-being of the community, fostering a sense of interdependence. By recognizing and addressing collective needs, we challenge the individualistic mindset that often accompanies overwork and burnout. In the shared space of collective care, we find strength, resilience, and a pathway to liberation that transcends the limitations of oppressive systems.

By radically reorienting ourselves toward rest, we resist exploitative systems and center our shared humanity.

Rest is not just a personal practice; it is a radical act of resistance against the oppressive forces that seek to commodify our time, bodies, and minds. By embracing these mindful tips, we reclaim rest as a sacred space for healing, self-discovery, and resistance—an essential step on the path to liberation from the shackles of capitalism and white supremacy.