Are You Ignoring the #1 Habit That Drives Performance?

Susie Quintana
Jun 27
2 min read

While doing a little summer organizing, I stumbled across a photo of myself at around 6 or 7 years old. I was dressed up in a sweet little dress my mom had sewn for me and fast asleep on the couch. Middle of the day. Completely knocked out.

And you know what? That picture made me laugh out loud.Because that little girl? She’s still me.

I was the kid who was always talking, dancing, playing outside until sunset, high energy from sunup to bedtime. I didn’t have an off switch.

But somehow, I knew when to pause. I didn’t overthink it.I just rested. And then I kept going.

Rest Used to Come Naturally…Now? Not so much.

Like many high-performing women I coach, I have full days, full weeks, full seasons. And over time, I’ve learned to become more intentional with my energy because it doesn’t regulate itself anymore.

I’ve trained myself to pay attention to:

My mood shifts and what they signal
Moments of tension or depletion
Patterns that lead to burnout vs. patterns that lead to balance

Example: If I’ve had a packed weekend with projects, social plans, or family responsibilities, I know that if I don’t build in some downtime on Sunday, Monday will come at me hard with fatigue, resentment, and low motivation.

This isn’t about laziness. It’s about respecting your rhythm.That’s not weakness. That’s wisdom.

The Science of Rest, Mood & Motivation

Let’s look at the research that backs this up:

Mental fatigue is often mistaken for laziness or lack of drive. But really, your brain just needs a reset.(Inzlicht & Schmeichel, 2012)
Your brain uses up to 20% of your body’s total energy, even when at rest. So if you're exhausted, it may be physiological not just emotional.
Even short periods of deliberate rest like a 10-minute nap or a walk can improve focus, memory, and emotional regulation.(Walker, 2017)