I have become pretty obsessed with the idea of rest lately. This year I have been busy, like really busy, and I came pretty close to burnout a couple of times. It's taught me a lot. I also seem to be working with people more and more who are stressed, burnt out, and overwhelmed with life. There are a few things that I’ve learned along the way that I want to share with you.
Something I have come to realise is that little and often is by far the better option when it comes to resting. Waiting for a big chunk of time to put your feet up or do your yoga practice, or whatever gets you feeling rested, is often pointless because those big chunks of time rarely come. We are busy after all, and so how are we meant to find time for long periods of downtime? I’ll be honest, I’m a yoga teacher and I rarely get to spend more than 15 minutes on my mat in a day unless I’m teaching. In fact, even that is a luxury sometimes. Between work and kids, running a house, keeping up with friends, and everything else there is to do in a day, I can easily get to the evening and realise I have stopped for a breath. Or at least that was my old way of being.
Once I acknowledged this inner conflict, I found ways to integrate rest into my routine. Over the last year, I have gradually made a habit of micro-rest breaks throughout the day. That might be taking a couple of minutes to do some mindful breathing or pranayama practice, stopping to look out the window and let my mind wander while the kettle boils (rather than using that time for chores), spending 5 minutes writing in my journal, or taking a longer route to pick up the kids from school so I can enjoy a walk and some fresh air.
In the beginning, I found it hard to let myself have these moments of rest because I had the mentality that I needed to earn my rest. That I was only allowed to stop if I had ticked enough off the to-do list. Has anyone ever actually completed all the jobs on that list anyway?! I took a lot of self-worth in the achievements that were quantifiable and generally related to my job or my role as a mother. Gradually, I have explored this inner narrative, and I’ve started to shift it so that I feel inherently valuable regardless of how many jobs I’ve done. I have also learned to see rest not as a reward but as a vital tool for my well-being. It’s up there with my five a day and regular exercise for keeping me healthy and well.
I may have bashed the idea of a to-do list a bit, but I do actually think they can be really useful. If I feel overwhelmed by all the tasks in my mind, writing a list can help me to see more clearly what needs doing and make a plan for it all. I often also find that there’s not as much as I think, or that many of the jobs only need to take a few minutes. Having a list can really help us to pace ourselves rather than become overwhelmed. I have also been known to add things after I’ve done them so I can get the little chemical hit of joy from ticking them off!
Another thing I’ve realised is that it’s not so much what you are doing but how you are doing it. We’ve probably all had the experience of feeling rushed or overwhelmed when we’re not actually doing much, or juggling lots but feeling in the flow and like we are owning it with ease. The truth is, the attitude we bring to our activities is vital for how we experience our lives. There’s so much benefit in taking a moment or two to pause before starting a new task so we can check in with our breathing, slow down, and feel settled before we start and then enter the task mindfully. To be mindful means to be present and aware of what is happening in the moment rather than thinking of other things. Practicing mindfulness can help us to overcome an overactive mind, and that leaves us feeling calmer and often happier.
Something that can be really useful is to make a habit of checking in mindfully throughout the day. Maybe you can set an alarm (with a gentle, pleasing sound!) for once an hour or every couple of hours. Or leave a post-it note that says ‘pause’ somewhere you will see it regularly. Every time you hear the alarm or see the note, take one minute to check in mindfully through your senses. What can you see/hear/taste/smell/feel? How is your breathing? Can you slow your breath down, especially your out-breath, and breathe more fully? Is there tension in your body that you can let go of? Unclench your jaw or relax your shoulders? All these little things can make a big shift in how we feel inwardly and also how we perceive the tasks and activities we’re doing.
The more we do these check-ins, the more we get used to listening to our bodies and
hearing the cues of when we are relaxed and when we need to relax more. Tension and stress often build up slowly, and we don’t notice it happening until it’s too late. Checking in periodically and breaking the cycle can make a huge difference.
When I talk about creating a habit of rest, I don’t just mean taking naps or sitting on the sofa with a cup of tea (although both are very valid pastimes!). There are so many different ways that we can rest. In fact, it’s said there are at least 7 different types of rest, and we need to fill our cups in all those different ways to feel truly rested and well. It’s activities where we can be authentically ourselves and be acting in line with our values that can be the most restful. You might find it useful to check in with yourself and figure out what authenticity feels like to you and what your true values are so you can be aligned with them. For me, journaling is a great way to do this. I particularly like free-writing. Just put pen to paper and write, letting anything and everything come out. It’ll probably be really jumbled at first, but over time—and the more regularly you do it—lots of clarity can come. And if there are specific questions you want to ask, then direct your writing that way.
Incorporating rest into your daily life doesn’t mean drastic changes or long hours of downtime. It’s about being intentional, even in the smallest moments, to nurture your well-being. By breaking the cycle of constant doing and embracing micro-rests, you can create a rhythm that helps you stay grounded and energised throughout the day. Whether it’s through mindful breathing, a walk in nature, or simply pausing to check in with your body, these moments can bring a deeper sense of peace and balance. Rest is not a luxury; it’s a necessity for a healthy, fulfilling life. So, make it a habit, and let your body and mind experience the benefits of true, restorative rest.
댓글