16/11/2025
Over the last 10 or so months, I have been quietly working on something close to my heart and it's finally here :)
I wanted to write a book about rest that was relatable, cheeky and (hopefully) interesting. I am really happy with how it has turned out! But what I really hope is that, if you read it, it speaks to you and where you're at.
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THE GREAT REST EXPERIMENT
Burnout wasn't the plan. Rest wasn't either.
Sarah Bennett never meant to burn out.
She just wanted to get through the week, keep her family in clean underwear, and maybe even find time to wash her hair.
But when her coffee mug stops cooperating, Sarah realises something’s off: She’s not just tired. She’s empty: mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and probably electrolytically.
Armed with a deeply suspicious relationship with downtime, a colour-coded planner, a laundry pile auditioning for Everest, and a rest coach she’s not entirely sure she believes in, Sarah sets out on a wildly unscientific experiment:
What if rest isn’t failure? What if it’s how you come back to yourself?
Part midlife memoir, part tired woman’s guide to doing less (without falling apart), THE GREAT REST EXPERIMENT is a tender, funny, quietly rebellious invitation to stop pushing through and start restoring.
Think science meets humour with a dash of soul-searching (and snacks).
This book is for:
- Women who’ve been saying 'I just need to get through this week' since 2007.
- Those holding up everyone else’s lives with a brain running 42 tabs at once and a rapidly fraying nerve.
- Anyone navigating the messy middle of life with no user manual and a to-do list in permanent caps lock.
If you’ve ever smiled through burnout or confused surviving with thriving, this book might just offer the one thing you’ve been craving: Permission to stop. Permission to rest.
WARNING: For external use only. Contains rest-related content. Side effects may include spontaneous naps, snort-laughs, and a life you actually want to be awake for.
Do not apply while over-functioning, overthinking, or operating a digital device on less than five hours of sleep.
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Early comments:
'I found it relatable, insightful, eye opening, Chap 12 ought to be mandatory reading for those with aging parents.' AP
'What an awesome book! I’m looking forward to being able to recommend it to my clients when it’s available. I love that it has some really do-able, practical examples of how to be present/connect with yourself and others.' ML
'I've giggled twice and come to the conclusion that you have written a book about me just from reading the cover.' TB
'I loved the book. It was such an easy read, that truely aligned to where my heart and soul are in this life moment.' SA
'Carolyn seriously just the introduction the chapter titles and chapter 1…and I’m in.
I love it.
I feel it.
I’m crying already.
It’s familiar. It’s me.
It’s you.'
JF
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Available for purchase on Amazon Australia:
Ebook: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0G25899WJ
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/1764093402
