Rest doesn’t always mean sleep
My husband loves to nap. It’s almost a skill at how well he can nap. He can just lay down and totally shut off his mind in the middle of the day, take a quick nap, and wake up refreshed. Do you feel some snarkiness as I write that? I used to be resentful that he would nap. That he would require this extra rest and actually follow through. Sure must be nice to take a break……wish I could pause and slow my mind down……..sound familiar?
But I like to think that I’ve grown wiser in my years on this earth and in marriage. And here are some things I’ve learned:
· rest doesn’t always mean sleep
· you don’t have to earn your rest
· we’ve got to be able to find the rest in the chaos
· nervous system dysregulation can impact rest
My garmin watch has a “body battery” function. This takes my sleep score and other factors and comes up with a number that represents how charged my battery is. It always tells me that my battery becomes more resilient the more active I am, and I have learned to love this little gauge. Now, yes I can become a tad obsessive with it – just ask my husband. He always tells me, “you rely on those watch scores too much” But I do like to use it and then compare it to how I’m feeling, where I’m at in my cycle, what’s my activity level been like, and how has my sleep been. And I love when I have days that I’m tanked, I look at my watch, and it confirms that for whatever reason, my body battery is low. And what has been most insightful is that, I don’t need to nap to actually rest. To recharge my body battery. For me, I need more removal of stimulation (turn off the phone and noises) and to sit and read, or to be in nature, or to journal and get everything out of my head.
“Rest is a state of physical, emotional, and mental relaxation that allows our bodies and minds to recover from the stress of daily life. It is essential to our overall health and well-being and just as important as diet and exercise”
Like I mentioned above. You don’t need to earn this rest. You need it. There’s something to be said for grit and determination, but we can’t just keep pushing. We’re not pieces of coal and won’t turn into diamonds with all this pressure and no rest. We’ll just burn out.
And like I also mentioned, you’ve got to be able to find ways to rest in the chaos - more than planning a yoga retreat. Those are well and good, but finding rest in the everyday can lead to our resiliency and finding true flow with the ups and downs of life.
And again, like I mentioned above, chiropractic adjustments allow the nervous system to function better, which can help our bodies truly recover during our times of rest. Cause if your body still thinks it’s running from a bear (you’re in a constant state of fight or flight), sitting down to read a book and rest may not cut it. We need to adapt to the stressors of life and allow our body to feel safe enough to rest. Enter chiropractic adjustments
Does our society/culture support this? Umm not really. So we’ve got to be the change!
Here are 7 areas of rest, each with a unique purpose.
Physical Rest - gives our muscles time to recover and repair which can reduce injury and fatigue. We often think of physical rest as lying down or sitting but it can also look like:
Stretching
Massage
short breaks
leisurely walk outside
2. Mental Rest - gives our brains time to recharge and process information which improves overall focus and productivity. Mental rest means taking a break from the constant stimulation we face daily. Mental rest activities include:
Turning off your phone
Avoiding social media
Meditation
3. Emotional Rest - when we let our emotions rest, we give ourselves time to process our feelings and emotions which can help you feel more balanced emotionally and most importantly, avoid burnout. This can look like:
Spending time alone
Avoiding stressful situations (when feasible)
Talking to a trusted friend (verbally processing, emotional release, therapy)
Practicing self-care
Spending time in nature
Journaling
4. Sensory Rest- we are bombarded with light and noise and other stimuli all the time. When we rest our senses, we give our body time to recover from overstimulation, which can help reduce sensory overload and reduce overall stress. Sensory rest can include:
Turning off the TV (and other electronic devices)
Closing your eyes
Spending time in a quiet room (even just 10 min)
Taking a bath
Listening to calming music or guided visualizations
Deep breathing (check out the finding your breath Aligned Birth Podcast episode)
Using an acupressure mat
5. Creative Rest - we often feel like we need to be constantly producing, creating, or doing something. When we rest creatively, we give our minds space and time to explore new ideas which can help us stay inspired and motivated and avoid burnout. Creative rest looks like:
Taking a break from work (when and where it makes sense) Sometimes even small breaks throughout the day can help.
Pursuing a hobby different from what you do for work or on a daily basis.
6. Social Rest - Socializing can be draining (especially for introverts). When we take a rest from being social, it can help us feel recharged and maintain our emotional boundaries which helps us avoid burnout and stay more connected with others. Social breaks looks like:
Spending time alone
Taking breaks from unnecessary social obligations
Spending time with those who don’t make you feel drained
Learning to say no - If it isn’t a heck yeah, it is a heck no
7. Spiritual Rest - this allows you time to connect to your inner self and God and find meaning in our lives which can help you feel more grounded and fulfilled. Spiritual rest can be:
Meditating
Praying
Yoga
Spending time in nature
Engage in spiritual activities you enjoy and want to do.
How to achieve intentional rest:
Schedule it in: Just like you schedule time for work or exercise, schedule time for rest.
Be intentional: make sure it aligns with what your body and mind need.
Take breaks: Take short breaks throughout the day to rest your body and mind.
Set boundaries: Learn to say no when you need to, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
Disconnect: from technology and social media regularly
Experiment: Everyone’s needs are different, so find what brings you peace and incorporate it into your routine.
Make it a habit: Incorporate it into your daily routine and make it a part of your self-care practice.
And if you’d rather listen to this blog, check out episode 171 on the Aligned Birth Podcast
As always, lets chat about your rest next time you’re in for an adjustment 😊
~ Dr. Shannon