freealberta/mkdocs/docs/freeto/rest.md

Freedom to Rest

!!! quote "Burnout Wisdom" "Our worth isn't measured by our productivity, even if our truck's worth is measured by its horsepower."

Who is Responsible?

Call Rick Wilson, Minister of Mental Health and Addiction{ .md-button } Email Minister of Mental Health{ .md-button }

Call Jason Nixon, Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services{ .md-button } Send Minister Nixon a Email{ .md-button }

Call Joseph Schow, Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration{ .md-button } Email Minister of Jobs and Economy{ .md-button }

Why Do We Need Freedom to Rest?

Because somehow we ended up thinking that working ourselves to death is a badge of honor. News flash: even our oil rigs have maintenance breaks, and we're at least as important as industrial equipment.

Our Current "Rest" System

!!! example "The Alberta Rest Journey" 1. We work 60-hour weeks 2. We brag about how busy we are 3. We drink enough coffee to power a small city 4. We call others lazy 5. We get burnt out 6. We repeat until breakdown

What Real Rest Freedom Looks Like

• Actual work-life balance (not just corporate buzzwords)
• Paid vacation time (that we actually take)
• Mental health days (without the guilt trip)
• Reasonable working hours (40 hours means 40)
• Time for family and friends (beyond mandatory company picnics)
• Genuine weekends (without checking work emails)

But What About Our Economy?!

!!! info "Plot Twist" Turns out, well-rested workers are more productive. Shocking concept: we aren't machines, and treating us like people actually works better.

The Rest Revolution

Physical Rest

• Adequate sleep (more than just power naps)
• Regular breaks (beyond smoke breaks)
• Vacation time (longer than a long weekend)
• Recovery days (without using sick leave)

Mental Rest

• Stress-free time
• Digital detox
• Quiet moments
• Meditation space
• Time to think (without a deadline)

Social Rest

• Family time
• Friend gatherings
• Community connection
• Solo recharge time
• Cultural activities

!!! tip "Pro Freedom Tip" If we think rest is for the weak, let's try operating heavy machinery after 48 hours without sleep. Actually, don't - that's literally illegal.

Breaking Rest Barriers

What's Stopping Us:

• Hustle culture ("Rise and grind!")
• Financial pressure ("Can't afford to rest")
• Social stigma ("Lazy millennials")
• Work expectations ("Always be available")
• FOMO (Fear Of Missing Overtime)

What We Need

• Better work policies
• Cultural shift
• Protected rest time
• Financial security
• Mental health support
• Recreation spaces

The Economic Reality

When we're free to rest:

• Our productivity improves
• Our creativity increases
• Our health costs decrease
• Our safety improves
• Our innovation thrives
• Our relationships strengthen

!!! warning "Reality Check" Our freedom to work ourselves to death doesn't mean we all should have to. Rest isn't weakness - it's essential maintenance.

The Rest Revolution Checklist

Essential Freedoms:

• Freedom to disconnect
• Freedom to take breaks
• Freedom to vacation
• Freedom to say no
• Freedom to prioritize health
• Freedom to have a life outside work

The Bottom Line

Freedom to rest means having the right, ability, and social acceptance to take care of ourselves without guilt or consequence. It means understanding that we aren't machines, and downtime isn't wasted time.

!!! note "Let's Get Resting" Ready to support rest freedom? Let's start by: - Taking our own breaks - Respecting each other's rest time - Supporting work-life balance - Fighting toxic productivity - Normalizing rest and recovery

Remember: Even our precious trucks need regular maintenance and downtime. We deserve at least as much care as our vehicles.

!!! tip "Fun Fact" Did we know? Countries with better work-life balance and more vacation time often have higher productivity rates. It's almost like treating people like humans works better than treating us like machines.

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Sources & Evidence

Mental Health Crisis

• Alberta has only 10.6 psychiatrists per 100,000 people - below the national average
• Wait times for mental health services: 6 months to 1.5 years
• Alberta's suicide rate is 14.3 per 100,000 - higher than the national average
• Mental health funding has not kept pace with demand
• Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information
• Source: Canadian Mental Health Association - Alberta

Work-Life Balance

• Alberta workers have some of the longest average work weeks in Canada
• Oil and gas industry workers frequently work 12+ hour shifts on rotation schedules
• Burnout rates remain high across multiple sectors
• Source: Statistics Canada - Labour Force Survey

Labour Standards

• Alberta's minimum vacation entitlement is only 2 weeks (below some other provinces)
• Many workers lack access to paid sick leave
• Gig economy workers often have no rest protections
• Source: Alberta Employment Standards

Healthcare Worker Burnout

• Healthcare workers face severe burnout following pandemic pressures
• Nursing shortages have led to mandatory overtime in some facilities
• Mental health supports for frontline workers remain inadequate
• Source: United Nurses of Alberta

Economic Stress

• Cost of living increases have forced many to work multiple jobs
• Rental costs increased 17.5% in a single year
• Financial stress is a leading contributor to mental health challenges
• Source: Statistics Canada - Consumer Price Index