There should be no shame or guilt in rest
Do you listen to your body and honour what it needs, or do you keep pushing and pushing.
Image credit: Esther Tuttle on Unsplash
Never has rest been more vital for me than it has been in the last couple of months of being unwell.
Three serious illnesses within eight weeks has definitely reminded me of what’s important, and to say my energy levels have been impacted hugely would be an understatement.
What has been different this time is that my body has reminded me of what matters most and I have had to listen to and honour what it’s telling me. The me of past would have pushed through and told myself and everyone else that I was fine.
That’s why so many of us are on the verge of burnout, or recovering from burnout - because we keep pushing through. There should be no shame or guilt in rest.
When you do the work on, and for yourself then you realise that being kind to yourself is the greatest gift and reward you can give yourself.
Rest is so much more than an afternoon nap though, and there’s seven types of rest which you could and should be incorporating into your regular routine.
The seven types of rest
🌻Physical rest can be passive or active - so actually sleeping or napping is only one part of physical rest. Restorative activities that stretch the body like yoga and massage are also important. It’s getting up and stretching and moving your body regularly and intentionally.
Activities to explore: get a massage, trade a gym class for a stretching activity, take a daily walk, set a timer to remind yourself to get up and move, have an afternoon nap, take a conscious break from physical activity.
🦋 Mental rest is giving our brains a break from the endless looping thoughts, it’s separating our work life from our home life. Writing down lists so we don’t have to keep remembering all the things we need to do. Sitting in silence (or meditating) and freeing our minds from all the things we think we should be doing.
Activities to explore: try a guided meditation, sit in the sun for 10 minutes with closed eyes, create a daily journal practice and download your thoughts on the page, give yourself permission to not think about work / life, choose to do something fun to help you switch off.
💋 Social rest is being conscious of the time we spend with energy givers and energy takers and creating more balance. If we’re introverts then making sure we have some ‘alone time’ and if we’re extroverts then ensuring we get some quality ‘social time’
Activities to explore: join a social group, start a new hobby like dancing, get away for a weekend alone, read a book, put your pjs on early and watch a feel good movie, say no to all social activities for a day / week.
🔮 Spiritual rest is about connection beyond the physical and emotional. It’s about honouring a sense of belonging and feeling seen and appreciated, finding a deeper purpose which could be through volunteer work, prayer or meditation, community engagement. It’s including something bigger than yourself into your regular routine.
Activities to explore: volunteer your time for a cause that matters, join a community group, make time to meditate, give back by paying a kindness forward.
💎 Sensory rest could involve a break from social media, turning off notifications. Taking a break from bright lights, loud noises and intentionally unplugging to give your senses a break.
Activities to explore: take a walk in nature, have a magnesium bath by candle light, listen to some calming music, spend time in a float tank, have a weekend free from social media and email by turning off all notifications.
🍀 Emotional rest requires checking in with yourself, having the ability to truly feel your emotions and not always engaging in the need to people please. Saying no is okay when things seem overwhelming and chaotic, as is finding the courage to be authentic and true to yourself.
Activities to explore: ask your body what it needs, explore your emotions and what they’re telling you, say no to the things you don’t want to do, do something purely for yourself.
🌈 Creative rest is about rediscovering the awe and wonder of something beautiful. It could be taking a walk in nature, or reengaging in creative pursuits - writing, painting, creating. Finding new and interesting ways to feel inspired.
Activities to explore: make a creative date with yourself - visit a gallery or museum, walk in nature, take up a creative activity, learn to crochet or knit, start taking photos of things that engage your senses, take a course.
I hope this weekend that you take the time to honour your body and give it what it truly needs.
Start with asking yourself this ‘Body what do you need’ and then just listen - do you need a nap, do you need am extra glass of water, do you need to take a walk in nature, perhaps you need a hug from someone else., or is your body craving a certain type of food, do you need to simply hug a tree, perhaps it’s just giving yourself permission to sit and do nothing.
Whatever your body needs, then do that.
Nurture your body, honour what it needs and stop pushing through, there’s courage and strength to be found in putting yourself first occasionally. It restores your energy levels, makes life easier and definitely contributes to a more balanced and happier you.
Keep smiling, Fi 🌻