Why am I scared to rest because others will get ahead?

You keep going past empty because pausing feels like handing the lead to someone else. So you never stop, and slowly you wear down. That is not staying ahead. That is burning the engine to keep the wheels turning. Rest is not the opposite of progress. It is part of it. A tired mind makes worse decisions and slower work. The people you fear are not gaining ground while you recover; you are the one losing ground by refusing to. Even a machine needs to cool. Try one real pause today. Step away for an hour without your phone, or protect one evening fully. Notice that the world does not fall apart. You will come back sharper, and sharper beats frantic every time.