Based on my podcast interview with ADHD coach Jess DuBose

Colorful graphic with a blue pillow and lightning bolt icon next to bold text that reads “Rest Like a Rebel” — promoting ADHD rest strategies for adults who struggle to relax.

CLICK HERE to get Jess’s brand new virtual course: REST LIKE A REBEL.

Is it even possible to rest when your ADHD brain never stops?

Let’s be real for a second: I’ve never been good at resting. Even when I try to rest, my brain’s running a mental marathon in the background. And if you live with ADHD, I bet you know that feeling too, tired but wired, guilty for slowing down, and overwhelmed even during “downtime.”

That’s why I brought my friend Jess DuBose back to The Vibe With Ky Podcast to talk about rest. But not the fluffy, light-a-candle-and-chill kind. We’re talking real, functional rest that actually works for brains like ours.

Jess is an ADHD coach, creator, and someone I’ve had the honor of knowing for years. She just launched a new course called Rest Like a Rebel, and honestly, this episode felt like the exact conversation I needed, especially as someone who still battles shame around not doing enough.

Meet Jess DuBose

Jess is a certified coach, educator, and fellow ADHDer who has built a platform all about helping neurodivergent adults own their truth. She’s funny, real, and brutally honest in the best way. You can find her on Instagram, TikTok, and her website jessdubose.com.

Her latest project, Rest Like a Rebel, is a virtual course that teaches the 7 types of rest specifically designed for ADHDers who can’t just “do nothing.” And yes, there are 7. That was news to me, too.

Rest Isn’t Just Sleep, It’s Seven Different Things

According to Jess, rest isn’t just about napping or going to bed early. ADHD brains burn through energy in weird ways, and that’s why we need different kinds of rest for different kinds of exhaustion.

The seven types of rest she explores are:

  1. Mental rest
  2. Emotional rest
  3. Physical rest
  4. Social rest
  5. Creative rest
  6. Sensory rest
  7. Spiritual rest

One of the most powerful moments came when Jess said, “We shame ourselves for not being able to do rest in the way we’re told to do rest.” That hit me like a truck. Because yes, rest can look like coloring, walking, or just turning down the volume of your day.

Guilt and Productivity Are Messing With Us

Something Jess and I both feel deeply is the guilt that creeps in when we do try to rest. Like if I take 20 minutes to scroll or lay down, I immediately feel like I’ve wasted the day. Jess broke this down perfectly: “Our culture teaches us to tie our worth to what we can produce. But rest is not a reward. It’s a requirement.”

We talked about how ADHD brains often crave stimulation, which makes stillness uncomfortable. So when we’re told that rest equals doing nothing, it backfires.

Instead, Jess reframes rest as something dynamic. You can be moving and still resting. You can be alone and still feel socially recharged. That reframing opened a door for me.

Rest That Actually Works for ADHD Brains

Throughout the episode, Jess gave some super tangible strategies for building real rest into our day, even if we suck at routines:

  • Use rest as a transition, not just an end-of-day collapse.
  • Build micro-rest moments like sensory breaks or journaling.
  • Ask yourself which type of tired you are, then match the rest to that.
  • Drop the perfectionism, your rest doesn’t need to look like a Pinterest board.

One Simple Thing You Can Do Today

Ask yourself: What kind of tired am I right now?

Then pick one rest activity that fits. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t even have to “work” right away. But noticing the type of tired is the first step to getting the kind of rest that actually restores you.

5 Key Takeaways from This Episode

  1. There are 7 different types of rest, and ADHDers need them all in different ways.
  2. Rest isn’t just stillness—it can be movement, creativity, or disconnection.
  3. Guilt and shame are common blockers to getting real rest.
  4. Matching your rest to your type of exhaustion is key.
  5. ADHD-friendly rest needs to be flexible, not rigid.

FAQ

Q. Why is rest so hard for people with ADHD?
A. ADHD brains crave novelty and stimulation. Traditional rest often feels boring, which makes it harder for us to settle into it without discomfort.

Q. Can I rest even if I’m not physically tired?
A. Absolutely. You can be mentally, emotionally, or socially drained even if your body feels fine. Identifying that helps you rest in the right way.

Q. What’s an example of creative rest?
A. Creative rest could be something that inspires without pressure, like walking outside, visiting a museum, or just consuming art that energizes you.

Conclusion

Rest doesn’t have to be rigid. It doesn’t have to look like anybody else’s version. And it sure doesn’t have to be earned. This episode helped me remember that I don’t have to wait until I’m broken to allow myself to pause.

Much love. Good vibes. – Ky