Are you tired of being tired? Did you know that there are 5 types of rest? Which ones the right fit for you? Well, I recently read this cool article about finding rest and I summarized it in this weeks blog post. I found this information help as I hope you will too. The goal is finding balance as you ebb and flow through life, to find the rest that’s best for you, right now. *Note – you can practice several types of rest at once.
1.) Time To Pause
Want to avoid burnout? Set up healthy boundaries. Let’s face it, sometimes you take on too many responsibilities at once. Pressing pause is so crucial. You have to re-energize your own battery before you can plug-in and energize others. Take a break from responsibility. What does that mean? What does that look like? Well, for each person it’s going to be very different. It could be blocking off certain days of the week to re-charge your mind and body. For some, it could be putting a whole week on pause. Perhaps, it could be going a whole season with nothing on your plate. Either way, you can’t beat burnout until you give yourself permission to rest.
2.) Time Alone
Taking time alone to enjoy your own company can leave you feeling more refreshed than you would expect. Spending time by yourself gives you the space you need to reflect and process all the things that are happening around you. Not only will this give you clarity into situations that can be the point of exhaustion, but the best part is you get to know yourself better. This “time of discovery” will allow you the freedom to set healthy boundaries.
3.) Sleepy Time
Sometimes you just need some good old fashion sleep to feel rested. Our society glorifies busyness, this can leave you burnt out and frazzled. A result of too many late nights followed by early wake-up calls. Experts advise getting seven or more hours of quality, uninterrupted, sleep every night to function optimally. If you don’t, it’s no surprise you feel tired all the time. Have you ever tried napping? Sometimes a nap can do the trick. But if you need this rest on a regular basis, you may want to consider “tweaking” your sleep habits.
4.) Time Outdoors
Have you ever heard of “Forest Bathing”? It’s a Japanese concept of “taking in the forest atmosphere”. Basically you’re practicing “being present” as you use all of our senses while spending time outdoors, surrounded by green open spaces. Remember to drinking in the beauty, calm and majesty of nature as you soak in the outdoors. Yes, I know, it’s so much easier to skip the outdoors in favor of countless hours in front of your TV or phone. But if you do opt for the remote, I guarantee you won’t feel rested. So the next time you’re tempted to shut off and mindlessly tune into technology, go for a walk instead. A 10 minute walk is enough to leave you feeling rested.
5.) Time with friends
You want to spend time with people around whom you can be yourself. This is time well spent. You’ll feel gratified and rested in the presence of those who truly love you. Now, with that said, I’m all about being yourself in every situation, but remember, not everyone should be privy to your innermost struggles, thoughts, and feelings.
Unfortunately, there are people out there who don’t have your best interests at heart, and sharing your challenges or dreams can be met with resistance, disparaging remarks, and discouragement—which can be truly exhausting to battle. Instead, spend time with those in your “inner circle” who build you up. This will leave you feeling rested, not drained.
Remember, wellness isn’t just about the food you eat. It’s also about the company you keep.
