The Importance of Rest

I’m hearing from friends and clients that they are feeling overwhelmed and tired. And while there is a lot of demands on our time, a lot to get done, it is important to find ways to rest. You’re allowed to take a step back, to take some time, to allow yourself the space to stop, to process, to reflect. When I mention resting, I’m not talking about napping (although a nap is nice). Resting is a way of being that allows spacious open-hearted pondering, wondering, and being.

Rest comes in many forms, some of them not so apparent. One form of rest that is urgent in our culture is a rest from screens. We can hardly escape them, screens are everywhere. And they ramp up our anxiety with the media endlessly conjecturing and seeking to inflame emotion. Screens also dull our minds and spirits, flickering images numbing our senses. If you can I suggest that you build in intentional screen-free time each day. Give your eyes and your nervous system a rest. And, if you can, take a half or whole day screen sabbath each week.

Other restful practices include walking in nature, grounding with the Earth, enjoying silence, or something creative such as sewing, painting, or cooking. These activities shake up our busyness, restoring our bodies and minds to a slower pace.

Rest makes space for reflection, allowing us to know ourselves better. Rest calms the nervous system. Rest fosters creativity and the imagination. Rest helps us remember who we are. We are human. We have limits. We aren’t meant to be perfect or constantly achieving, or continuously scheduled. We are evolved rhythmic beings, meant to follow the sum through our days and the moon through our nights; to follow the sun through the seasons and the moon through its phases. As we ease our schedule, we naturally find a healthier and more peaceful way of living. It leads to less anxiety which leads to lower blood pressure which leads to a healthier body, mind, and spirit.

How can you find rest today?

Sending love,
Janet