Dear Squirrel: You Have Permission to Be Human

by Laura Webb

Life asks a lot of you — your energy, your attention, your emotional bandwidth, your creativity, your heart.

In this current American political climate, living in a late stage capitalist society is mentally draining for anyone.  When you are neurodivergent, everything tends to cost just a little bit more.

More effort. More recovery time. More intention.

So, I want to offer you something we don’t hear enough:

You’re allowed to be fully human.

You don’t have to push, perform, or pretend your way through exhaustion.

You don’t have to justify your needs.

You don’t have to earn softness, quiet, slowness, or rest.

In Squirrel Club, we talk about something so many women in particular struggle with:

Rest without guilt.

Not performative rest.

Not “stopping but still feeling terrible

about it.”

Actual, nervous-system-regulating, soul-softening, body-honoring rest. 

What? How?

We came up with a strategy on HOW to ACTUALLY rest:

1. Plan for it.

Rest becomes more accessible when it’s part of the schedule rather than squeezed into the leftovers. Put it on your calendar like any other appointment. Maybe you need a whole day to literally sleep? Maybe you need a morning off or an evening of binge watching your favorite show with your favorite snacks?

Rest is a legitimate part of your wellness and your productivity. SCHEDULE IT! Block it off in your calendar and guard it with your life.

2. Set up the space.

Make it cozy. Soothing. Inviting.

Blankets? Yes.

Soft lighting? Even better.

Do you have meals and snacks available and pre-made? Great.

A door closed to the world for a while? Necessary.

Give yourself permission to build a space your body and brain want to sink into. 

3. Take the time — without asking for permission.

This is the part so many of us were never taught.

We watched the women before us push and push and push.

We learned that rest comes last, after everyone else’s needs.

Meanwhile, men… well, they just recline back in a chair and fall asleep mid-sentence without a shred of guilt.

And honestly? That energy is the vibe.

You deserve that same ease.

Can You Stay in PJ’s All Day and Relish It?

Journal or just ask yourself:

• What stops me from fully resting?

• What thoughts make me feel like I “should” be doing more?

• What would make the day feel soft, restorative, or even indulgent in the best way?

• Can I let myself enjoy comfort without narrating why I deserve it?

  This is a hard one for me. My mind is constantly racing and those thoughts say “I should be productive and at least run the washing machine”

Rest is not a reward.

Rest is a right.

You don’t need to explain it, justify it, or minimize it.

You just need to TAKE IT.

And when you do, you break a generational pattern.

You teach your nervous system safety.

You model a new rhythm.

You reclaim your humanity.

Try repeating these mantras during your down time:

• I do not have to earn rest.

• It’s okay if today’s capacity is lower.My energy will ebb and flow. It doesn’t define my worth.

• My comfort matters more than others’ expectations.I am allowed to choose environments, routines, and people that feel safe.

• I don’t have to explain why something feels hard. Difficulty doesn’t need a justification to be valid.

• My feelings are not “too much.” Feeling deeply is a form of intelligence, not a flaw.

It’s okay to pause before burnout.

Remember Dear Squirrel,

Resting early is wise. Resting late is survival. Resting at all is necessary.