Learning to Rest: The Mexico Sickness That Taught Me More Than Any Workout Ever Has
I didn’t expect to spend part of my Mexico trip sick in bed. I’m the type who usually packs every minute with adventure, sunshine, workouts, and all the things I “should” be doing. But instead, my body had a completely different plan: full shutdown.
And honestly… it was one of the most important reminders I’ve had in a long time.
For most of my life, I’ve lived in a state of hyper-arousal without even realizing it. High-alert. High-output. High-stress. The kind of mindset where even while sick I’d force myself to work out, clean the house, keep up with laundry, answer emails, and stay on top of everything. Rest wasn’t something I allowed myself. It felt like a weakness. Stopping felt dangerous. And slowing down came with a heavy dose of guilt.
But getting sick in Mexico cracked open something bigger in me. It made me pause… and actually listen.
The Old Me Would Have Powered Through
There was a time when the moment I felt a tickle in my throat, my first thought wasn’t “how can I care for myself?” It was “how can I keep going anyway?”
Years of being a first responder trained me to override my own needs. You push through fatigue. You push through sickness. You push through everything because people are counting on you and there’s never a good time to fall apart.
That mindset carried into my fitness world too. Sick? “Work it out.” Run it off. Sweat it out. You’ll be fine.
And inside my home? If I wasn’t doing the dishes, vacuuming, prepping meals, or keeping up with busy mom life, I felt like I was failing.
So when this sickness hit on vacation, old patterns showed up fast. A part of me immediately wanted to get up, do something, anything. I felt that familiar guilt of “I’m ruining the trip.” That voice that said: keep going, don’t inconvenience anyone.
But I couldn’t. My body said no.
And for once, I didn’t argue with it.
Surrendering Instead of Fighting
Two days in, I realized this wasn’t something I could “push through.” I had to surrender—which, ironically, was the exact word I had chosen for this trip.
Surrender to rest.
Surrender to stillness.
Surrender to letting people care for me.
Patience, Britt, Lex, and my mom were unbelievable. They checked on me, brought me tea, made sure I had everything I needed, and reminded me it was okay to just be still.
Letting people help me is not something that used to come naturally. I’ve always been the one who handles it all. But their care showed me something powerful: I didn’t have to earn rest. I didn’t have to justify slowing down. I didn’t have to explain or apologize.
Sometimes the most healing thing we can do is stop resisting what we need.
Choosing Not to Mask the Symptoms
Another big shift for me was not jumping straight to every medication possible just to force myself back into function mode. I used to immediately load up on meds to hide symptoms so I could keep going.
This time, I let the illness run its course.
I supported my body instead of trying to overpower it. I gave it what it needed to flush everything out naturally. Plenty of hydration. Warm broth. Water. Tea. Electrolytes. Sleep on sleep on sleep.
My body knew exactly what to do—I just finally got out of its way.
Releasing the Guilt of Calling In Sick
Even after 20 years in EMS and law enforcement, calling in sick always came with guilt. There’s this pressure to be unstoppable. To show up no matter what. To keep carrying the weight, even when your body is screaming for a break.
But going back too early never helps anyone.
It drags out the illness.
It delays healing.
It risks getting everyone else sick.
And it teaches your body that you don’t care about it enough to give it what it needs.
This time, I chose differently. I stayed home. I rested. And yes—at first I felt guilty. But I knew the alternative: more days sick, less energy long-term, and a slower return back to my real self.
Honoring your body is not weakness.
Rest is not quitting.
And taking care of yourself is not selfish—it’s responsible.
What Actually Helped Me Feel Better
I kept it simple, nourishing, and supportive. Here’s what helped me recover naturally:
1. Bone Broth (Chicken + Beef)
Warm, healing, full of minerals and protein. It soothed my stomach and kept me hydrated.
2. Lots of Rest + Actual Sleep
Not “I’m laying down but still doing emails on my phone.” REAL REST. Letting my body fully reset.
3. Tea
Peppermint, ginger, and throat teas helped calm nausea, soothe my throat, and warm my body.
4. Crackers + Simple Foods
When my stomach was off, bland carbs helped settle everything so I could slowly eat again.
5. Water + Electrolytes
Hydration is everything when you’re sick. I added immunity fizz for extra vitamin C and support.
6. Letting People Help Me
This might have been the hardest but most impactful part. Receiving support instead of refusing it.
The Lesson I’m Taking Forward
This experience reminded me that rest isn’t something I have to earn.
It’s something I deserve by virtue of being human.
I don’t need to be strong all the time. I don’t need to push through. I don’t need to carry everything alone just because I always have.
My body talks to me all the time. I’m just finally learning to listen.
And if someone else needs this reminder too:
You don’t need permission to rest. Your healing matters. Your body matters. And slowing down doesn’t make you weak.
