The Monthly Pause

Written by Payton Moore, February 2026

March can feel like a gentle turning point. The days stretch a little longer, the air shifts, and there’s a quiet invitation to reset. 

Sleep is foundational, but rest is bigger than just sleep.

I always say weekends are sacred. Not in a dramatic, “off-the-grid” way. Just intentionally slow. I protect my weekends as a space to soften. To pause. To let my nervous system exhale.

There’s something powerful about giving yourself permission to relax without earning it.

For me, weekend self-care looks simple:

• Slow mornings with herbal tea and no alarms

• Long walks through TJ Maxx (bonus points for sunshine)

• A good book I’ve been meaning to start

• Early bedtimes without guilt

Nothing extravagant. Just consistent.

This time of year, especially when discussing sleep awareness, I like to remind myself, and others, that rest is not laziness. It’s regulation. It’s repair. It’s preparation for showing up fully during the week.

Consider this your gentle nudge: choose one small ritual this month that feels calming. Maybe it’s a tech-free hour. Maybe it’s a bath with a candle lit (safely, of course). Maybe it’s going to bed 30 minutes earlier.

And in a world that constantly asks for more, choosing rest is a quiet act of self-respect.

So this weekend, let yourself slow down.... intentionally.