No Apologies: How to Respond When Rest Gets Judged
- Tami West, PhD

- Sep 18
- 3 min read
Meet Ginger. During my study, we were talking about sleep, and said this:
“I do have to get enough sleep, I know that about myself. But I don’t take naps, and I don’t rest on the weekends and stuff.”
So what’s up with that?? The disclaimer? That’s the Stress Club talking. Because when you’re in the club, if you take care of yourself, you feel like you have to explain. Otherwise, it’s like someone stamps “invalid” on your forehead.
And here’s what Ginger is probably preparing for: somebody saying, “Wow, I wish I could do that.” She’s already bracing for judgment, so she explains ahead of time-just to keep her spot in the club.

But exiting the Stress Club means becoming a little bit of a rebel. It means saying, “Heck no. I don’t owe anyone an apology or an explanation for taking care of my body, my mind, or my spirit.”
So what do you say when someone hits you with, “Wish I could do that”? I’ve put the responses together in a free download, along with Must be nice and Wait till you have kids. Stay tuned for more.
👉 Grab the "Responding to Snark" guide in my Resource Vault and start practicing responses today.
Love & Hugs,
Tami
Engage with the full resources in my Resource Vault
I’d love to hear from you. And if you missed any of the social posts, you can check them out on Facebook or grab your free downloads from the Resource Vault.
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Which of these topics helped you most this week? Drop a comment below or send me a message—I love hearing your stories. And if you want downloadable quote cards, images, or deep-dive guides for any of these posts, just let me know!
Love & Hugs,
Tami
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Tami West, PhD
Stress and Mental Health Expert Dr. Tami West uses her entertaining and compelling style to shine a new light on how to transform your life and discover solutions to life’s challenges.
Tami has worked in a variety of industries including healthcare, school nutrition, corporate sales, and 10 years as a public-school teacher. In 2013 she received her PhD in Human Development, studying the connections among stress, emotions, and identity.
Dr. West has spoken in 48 states across the US, as well as the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. In any given year, Tami speaks to groups with audiences consisting of anywhere from 100 to 3,000 people.
Dr. West is the author of several successful publications including three books: The Stress Club, Life Without the Monsters and Thrive. When she's not speaking or writing, you might find her with her traveling with her husband and family, reading historical fiction, or watching Big Bang Theory.
Tami connects with audiences through real experience, cutting edge research, and transparent stories – all sprinkled with humor! She will make you laugh, cry, and shine a refreshingly new light on life's challenges.
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Contact Tami at tamiwest@tamiwest.com









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