I think that we’ve learned how to perform wellness. We know how to look okay, sound okay, and keep moving—even when our inner battery is blinking red. We live in a performance based society where it seems like the busier we are, the more productive we are. So when we need a break from the constant busyness of life, what do we do? We turn to our devices for a break.

There is a problem with that, though. Constant scrolling, endless notifications, and the quiet pressure of comparison have led to what psychologists call cognitive fatigue—a mental exhaustion caused by continuous stimulation and decision-making. The church might call it something else entirely: soul weariness. Not just being tired, but being worn down at the deepest level.

First, we have to recognize that we are operating on 1%. I know sometimes I have a hard time acknowledging that. Sometimes I don’t want to admit that I’m running on E because I don’t want to let others in my life down. There have been times in my life where I have felt like I can’t slow down, if I drop one thing the whole house of cards will come tumbling down. 

Sometimes we don’t rest because we can’t. Other times, we don’t rest because we don’t believe we’re allowed to.

How do we recognize that we are soul weary? We have less patience, we let resentments build up, we feel tired even after a full 8 hours of sleep. Living on 1% doesn’t just drain our energy—it drains our capacity for joy, creativity, and connection.

Ignoring it won’t make it go away. And despite what we hope, an hour of doom scrolling never leaves us feeling more alive—only more depleted.

Maybe the most honest thing we can do is stop pretending we’re fully charged when we’re not. You don’t have to power through to prove your worth. Rest isn’t quitting—it’s listening. And sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is plug yourself back in.

The low-battery signal isn’t something to override; it’s something to honor. You don’t need to shut down completely to earn rest. Plugging back in—through pause, presence, and care for your soul—can begin long before you reach empty.

Maybe, this holiday season, it’s time to give yourself the gift  of believing that  living well isn’t about running longer on 1%, but about believing you’re allowed to stop and recharge before the screen goes dark. 

Merry Christmas!