Taurus Season: Why Do We Feel Guilty Indulging in Pleasure?

aries season told us to just get started. we explored why new beginnings suck in our aries season essay.

taurus season says "daddy, chill" but why is it so hard to actually relax? 

essay written by nadia cadet 

The guilt around pleasure is something that is felt by many universally. There are many factors to examine when understanding why this guilt is so common.

Today’s social and cultural norms prioritize hustle and productivity, which often gives a negative connotation to engaging in pleasure and leisure time.

There is also an important mental aspect to this guilt. As human beings, we experience internal conflicts that directly correlate with the decisions we make. Sigmund Freud’s model of the psyche divides personality into three sections: the id, the superego, and the ego. The id represents our desires, while the superego represents our morality. These two are often in conflict, contrasting what we want with what we believe is right.

Examining both social norms and internal conflict is essential to understanding why we experience guilt when indulging in pleasure.

hustle culture ruined relaxing for everyone

Due to technological advancements and access to more educational tools, the 2020s have been coined as “the age of productivity.” In the age of productivity, leisure is often perceived negatively.

With technological innovation on the rise, such as AI tools at our disposal, there is an expectation that there will be a reduction in manual labor and an increase in effective work/life balance. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Economic history has shown us that increases in productivity usually result in higher expectations instead of an emphasis on leisure time (McElwaine, 2025).

Additionally, the rise of “hustle culture” has taken its toll on many people’s mental health and perception of downtime and indulgence. Toxic productivity and hustle mentality can contribute to emotional burnout, chronic stress, and anxiety (Associated Clinic of Psychology, 2025).

resting during midterms stresses me out

As a college student, this is unfortunately a feeling that I have often.

During midterm season, there is often encouragement from school faculty, family, and friends to take some leisure time and even celebrate by going out to eat or taking a small vacation before exams. However, there is always a feeling of guilt that comes with engaging in this especially during a time when I personally and externally feel pressure to work harder in studying.

the psychology behind feeling guilty for doing nothing

Circling back to Sigmund Freud’s model of the psyche, personality is divided into the id, the ego, and the superego. The id represents our impulsive side that seeks immediate gratification, while the superego represents morality and values. When we seek to indulge in our desires, our morality can induce feelings of guilt when our moral codes are violated. 

For many people today, productivity is taught as not only important, but essential to success and quality of life. Any leisure time or indulgence of pleasure, especially if it involves food intake, taking longer breaks, bailing on plans, may feel like a direct conflict towards this moral code and values. 

your permission slip to do less this taurus season

Taurus season is about embracing leisure and comfort.

For this season especially, it is important to not only recognize the root of our guilt but also take steps to unlearn it.

The first step is acknowledging our need for breaks and relaxation. Current work culture may make rest feel like a waste of time, but breaks are essential for cognitive health, physical health, and overall mental wellness.

Secondly, finding a hobby or simply something that relaxes you can help create intentional leisure time. Hobbies like yoga and crocheting can reduce stress while encouraging rest without pressure.

to conclude

There are several ways to answer this question of why exactly we experience guilt when choosing to indulge in pleasure. A simple answer could be reduced to a combination of our internal conflicts and the social norms that are imposed on us. However, there is more nuance to be applied to how our guilt is tied into our current age of productivity and the wider economical state of our world.

When there is more of an emphasis on hard labour than ever it reduces the importance of leisure time, hobbies, socialization, and pleasure. To comprehend our feelings of guilt it is important to take into account the current social context we are living in, how it affects our internal conflict and mental health. 

How do you embrace Taurus season energy?
Take a moment this week to indulge in something that brings you comfort.

shop the taurus season edit for cozy pieces

Citations:

• “Are We About to Enter an Age of Leisure? Insights on Productivity.” MERCURY, 2025.
• “Believing Leisure Is Wasteful Reduces Happiness.” Rutgers University, n.d.
• “Can Toxic Productivity Affect Our Mental Health?” Associated Clinic of Psychology, 2025.
• “Guilt Identity Freud.” Salmagundi Magazine, n.d.
• “Id, Ego, and Superego.” Simply Psychology, n.d

Artwork: The Large Bathers by Cezanne