Rest is something we all need. Critical in supporting our functionality, rest it not a luxury but a necessity. We need to take breaks, sleep, take a moment for ourselves and give ourselves time to recover.
In a world that prioritises productivity and celebrates busyness, rest seems trivial. It becomes another task, another thing added to the a never ending list and one that is of low priority. Despite many of us walking through our days deprived of rest, it’s difficult to see the importance of intentionally resting. Suffering with fatigue, overwhelm, a lack of concentration, stress and anxiety, the rest deficit we experience actively contributes to and increases all of these feelings. With the importance of meaningful rest misunderstood and often overlooked, many of us go through our lives without replenishing our energy.
Crucial to our wellbeing, rest can have profound effects on our overall health. It can help repair our body, calm our brain, and restore our energy, combating burnout and fatigue. When we rest, our body undertakes repair processes essential for our physical and mental health. Giving our body and mind the chance to rejuvenate, rest is a vital part of our functionality and happiness.
The importance of meaningful rest is not lost on us here at GirlDreamer. Experiencing joy, peace and true relaxation through intentional, guilt free rest is life changing. Understanding just how critical meaningful rest is, we want to share our tips on how to begin resting to significantly enhance and support your wellbeing.
Plan Your Rest
Rest is critical and learning to practise meaningful rest is vital. An easy way to do this is by planning your rest and implementing it into your life.
Meaningful rest is hard to get used to to begin with. With busy schedules, strict routines and everyday inconveniences, planning rest can feel like you’re adding another thing to an already long list.
So, when it comes to your resting, you might think that scrolling on your phone, watching TV after work or sleeping in on the weekend is sufficient enough. However, this is not rest. Rest is not a last resort that offers no repair. Rest should make you feel better, it should help you feel renewed, reinvigorated and refreshed.
An easy way to get to this place is by first planning your rest. We suggest that you start by dedicating some time to yourself once a week where you just do nothing and by nothing we literally mean nothing. No scrolling on your phone, no watching TV, no planning your week in your head. Literally just carving some time out to sit and exist without thinking of all that you need to do.
Just as you schedule work meetings or family events, it is vital that you make time for rest in your calendar. This commitment to intentional rest is lucrative in renewing your mental and physical health and sustaining your wellbeing, ensuring you prioritise yourself and your peace even when life gets busy. As you plan your rest and implement effective rest into your routine you will begin to see the the joy and fuel it brings to your life and will want to continue carving out more time for yourself and your rest.
Find What Works
With how unique our lives and experiences are it makes sense that our rest needs would be unique too. Rest is not linear and so what might work for someone else might not work for you.
The different types of rest can range from physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, sensory and social. So, for some people it might be going for a walk, a run, staying in bed all day, having a screen free day or a day full of mediation and yoga. Exploring different activities as a part of building a rest routine will ensure you find what helps rejuvenate you. Finding whats works best for you is critical in helping ensure you feel your best and that your rest routine will work best for you, ultimately supporting your wellbeing.
Set Boundaries
Boundaries are a vital part of our general peace. In all aspects of our lives, boundaries are powerful in ensuring we can sustain and maintain our peace and joy, acting as metaphorical blocks to things that do not serve us.
When it comes to our rest, boundaries are vital in ensuring we can get all that we need, uninterrupted. As you begin to find peace and joy in your rest routine, boundaries help maintain this and ensure you can continue on supporting your wellbeing. With all of the busyness and productivity expected of us in our daily lives it is easy to get distracted and put yourself on the back burner. Therefore, boundaries are essential in ensuring you get the rest you need. Whether its saying no to things, making sure you carve out time for yourself or putting yourself first, boundaries ensure you do not waiver when it comes to prioritising your rest.
Rest is not a luxury or something we should get used to catching up on. It is a necessity that is critical for our physical wellbeing but also crucial for our mind and emotions. Contributing to our functionality, wellbeing, emotional regulation and overall peace and joy, rest is essential in ensuring we can effectively recharge and maintain mental clarity and emotional stability. With our busy, often stress-filled lives, rest helps us manage our stress better, overcome burnout, and maintain a healthy mind.
