You’re Still a Chingona When You Rest
You’re Still a Chingona When You Rest
From a young age, many of us were taught that strength means doing it all—without complaint, without rest, and without asking for help.
Whether it came from family, culture, or survival, we internalized this belief:
If I’m not constantly achieving or giving, I’m falling behind.
And when you’re the first in your family to go to therapy, start a business, break a cycle, or earn a degree—there’s a whole different kind of pressure.
You’re not just succeeding for yourself.
You’re carrying generations with you.
That’s beautiful.
That’s powerful.
But it can also be too much.
Signs of Chingona Fatigue
Burnout in first-gen women of color doesn’t always look like collapse. Sometimes, it shows up quietly.
Here are some signs of what I call Chingona fatigue:
Always feeling “on,” even in moments of rest
Saying yes when you’re screaming no inside
Feeling guilty for taking breaks or asking for help
Numbness—joy feels flat, and nothing recharges you
Imposter syndrome, even after years of proving yourself
Crying in the shower because it’s the only time you’re alone
You might think you’re just tired.
But this runs deeper.
This is your body and spirit asking you to stop and tend to yourself.
Personal Reflection: My Own Chingona Fatigue
I grew up watching my dad never rest—always working, always pushing through. That became my model of success.
By my mid-20s, I was juggling four jobs at once during the pandemic. I looked like I had it all together. But inside? I was unraveling.
Waking up with anxiety, feeling disconnected from my own life, I had to ask:
Is this what success is supposed to feel like?
Spoiler: it’s not.
That’s when I started setting boundaries—with others, and with myself.
Now I’m building a life and practice that honors rest, softness, and presence.
Because self-care isn’t a luxury. It’s necessary. And it’s sacred.
It’s Okay to Not Always Feel Like a Chingona
Let this sink in:
You don’t stop being powerful just because you need rest.
Being soft doesn’t make you weak.
Being vulnerable doesn’t make you less wise.
You don’t need to prove your worth by burning out.
You’re still a chingona—even when you’re lying in bed, phone on Do Not Disturb, letting the world wait.
Healing Practices for the Tired Chingona
Start reclaiming your energy with these therapist-approved practices:
Complete the stress cycle. Like Emily and Amelia Nagoski write in Burnout, stress is physical. Move, cry, dance, yell, or shake. Let your body release it.
Practice enoughness. Rest without earning it. Do nothing, and feel zero guilt.
Set radical boundaries. Inspired by Tricia Hersey’s Rest Is Resistance—say no, unplug, and protect your energy.
Reparent your inner niña. Speak gently to yourself. Ask: Would I treat a child this way?
Lean on community. Text a friend. Join a healing circle. Let others witness you.
Try culturally-rooted self-care. From Self-Care for Latinas by Raquel Reichard—journal, stretch, breathe, speak affirmations like: “Rest is my birthright.”
You’re Still a Chingona, Even When You’re Tired
You’re allowed to pause.
You’re allowed to feel.
You’re allowed to not have it all figured out.
Because your power isn’t in your productivity.
It’s in your presence.
It’s in the quiet moments where you choose you.
And even in your softness, you are still a badass.
