When we’ve got what feels like a gazillion things on our to-do list, taking a few moments to rest can feel like an impossible feat. So we keep plugging along, checking things off that to-do list, 24/7/365. Whether we’re SAHMs (the hardest job in the world, in my opinion!), part-time workers, full-time workers, caregivers, or whatever work we do during the day, we often just keep going and going and going. In fact, we might often wear “Busyness” as a badge of honor, thinking that if we’re constantly busy, we’re being productive. And the busier we are, the more productive we are, right?!
So when it comes to rest, who has time to rest? And if we do take some time to rest, won’t we get behind? How can we be legit “Busyness Badge of Honor” wearers if we rest?
So, what is rest?
In dictionary.com, rest is defined as “refreshing ease or inactivity after exertion or labor, to refresh oneself, to relieve weariness by cessation of exertion or labor.”
Rest can be whatever we want it to be. It can be a few minutes, 15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, more than hour—whatever works best for each of us. It can mean being completely still or moving. And it can change based on what else is going on. With rest, the most important thing is to just do it.
Why should we rest? Why is it so important to make time for rest? Read on…
The Benefits of Rest
Basically, rest is crucial to productivity, good mental health, and just feeling better overall—mentally, physically, spiritually, and intellectually. Even a few minutes of rest at a time can make a difference in our lives. Check out these benefits of resting I’ve experienced when I’ve made the time to rest, and I know you can experience them too!
Increases our creativity
As a professional writer, I need all the creativity help I can get! And since other creative hobbies are also important to me, I’m all over this benefit of rest.
Helps with decision making
A tired brain can make poor decisions, so while rest can definitely help our bodies, it can also help our brains recover from what goes on in our day-to-day lives. Resting our brains can also help us gain a better perspective on all the things.
Makes us more productive
When I’m tired, my productivity tanks. And the more I try and push through, the worse things go. So taking even a few minutes to just breathe or get up and move around can make all the difference, and it allows me to reset both my body and my brain so I can be productive again. I love this quote from Greg McKeown:
“The key to peak performance, not for a month, year, or decade, but for the remainder of your life, is rest.”
Reduces stress
When we’re stressed, our body goes into that “fight or flight” mode, which can cause our digestion to slow down, hormones like cortisol can increase, our blood pressure and heart rate can increase, and more. These responses to stress are no bueno, and taking just a few minutes or even seconds to rest can reset our bodies, reducing those responses to stress.
Why don’t we take necessary rest breaks?
With all the benefits of rest, even if that rest is just for a minute or two, why don’t we make time for rest? I think there are two main reasons we don’t take those rest breaks:
- Reason #1. Maybe we feel like we haven’t earned rest, or that if others around us aren’t resting, we shouldn’t be resting too. I saw this quote on Instagram, and I think it’s powerful:
“I don’t know who needs to hear this but rest is not a reward. You don’t have to earn rest. You need rest. You deserve rest. You are worthy of rest simply because you are a living being. And don’t ever feel guilty for taking time to rest.” ~Eso
- Reason #2. We feel like we’ll fall behind if we take a rest break. With only so many minutes in the day, giving rest some of those minutes—when we feel like we’re not doing anything—can feel counterintuitive.
Have you ever watched kids for any length of time? When they get tired, they slow down for a bit. They rest. Then they get going again, stronger than before that rest break. So, be like a kid. Rest when you need to rest to be able to come back stronger. Even a few minutes of rest can help.
Tips for resting
While taking a vacation is a fabulous way to get some rest, and vacations are amazing ways to both rest and recharge, you can still get the benefits of rest in small breaks taken throughout the day. Here are some tips for getting some rest:
Tip #1. Just breathe. Take some deep breaths. Make regular time for some breathing. And yes, we’re breathing all day long. But when we’re stressed, our breathing changes to more shallow breathing, which can actually increase our stress. Taking some deep breaths helps to reduce those stressful feelings.
When I’ve felt stressed or anxious, just stopping what I’m doing and taking a few deep breaths centers me and helps me put things back into a more proper perspective. James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, a book I highly recommend, said the following about breathing and rest:
“A gift you can give yourself right now: Stop what you’re doing. Close your eyes. For the next 60 seconds, just breathe.”
Tip #2. Stretch. Take a few minutes throughout your day and just stretch your body. Work out those kinks while you’re giving your body and your brain a rest.
Tip #3. Be grateful. Thinking of things you’re grateful for—no matter how small—can give your brain some positive rest. And you’ll feel better overall too.
Tip #4. Set some alarms to go off throughout the day to remind you to just stop and be still for a few minutes.
Tip #5. Go for a walk. Walking outside not only gives you some rest from whatever you’re doing, but it also gives you that dose of vitamin D that is so important. If walking outside isn’t an option, walking around your office or house can certainly work.
Tip #6. Read a few pages from a favorite book. Again, the idea is to give your mind a break from what you’ve been doing, especially if you’re having a stressful day.
Tip #7. Give yourself permission to just sit, relax…rest. We can be hardest on ourselves. That’s the truth. We’ll tell friends or family to take a rest when they’re overwhelmed, overworked, and so on, but we often don’t take our own advice. So remember that you’re in charge of taking care of the most important person—you, and take those rest breaks. Because if you’re not taking care of yourself, you can’t take care of others who are counting on you. After all…
“Relaxing [resting] is a responsibility.” ~Greg McKeown
I’ve only touched the surface on rest and why rest is so important, so here are some other resources if you’d like to learn more:
National Institutes of Health
WebMD
National Institutes of Health
What are your favorite ways to take a rest break? Please share your ideas below! And happy resting!
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