Rest as a Radical Act - Balancing Productivity with Replenishment

Although our culture celebrates and rewards endless productivity, our body needs a balance of activity and rest. How do we honor our natural need for restorative downtime despite the constant external messages that we should fill every moment of our time with activity?

Rest as a Radical Act

First, we must recognize that rest is a radical act of self-care and an investment in our physical, mental, emotional health. A large number of studies indicate that the vast majority of illnesses are stress related. Since life if full of stressors beyond our control, it is up to us to give our bodies the chance to recover and replenish.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines "replenishment" as "the act of filling something up again by replacing what has been used."

This "refilling" is essential for our wellbeing. Animals know this. Babies know this. Nature knows this. I believe we know this too.

However, we often choose to listen to other voices, external and internalized, which go against this basic requirement that comes with having a human body with human needs. We continue to push ourselves, ignoring the whispers and louder pleadings of our body to rest.

Oftentimes, the body eventually says, "Enough!" Whether we experience burnout or a stress related illness, we then have no choice but to stop and finally listen.

What if it didn't have to get to that point? What if we respected our body enough to honor its basic fundamental need for balance? What if we stopped treating ourselves like production machines whose parts can be replaced indefinitely?

What if we started honoring our precious humanness?

We don't receive praise or reward for resting like we do for being productive. From what I have noticed, that's what keeps most people stuck in imbalance. External validation can be so addictive that folks ignore their own body's desperate pleading for one more "Good Job!" from someone else.

If we find meaning in what we give and do for others, it can be helpful to recognize that the more we approach life from a state of balance and regulation, the more we can fully show up for the people and work we care about. Remember the saying, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” Rest helps to fill our cups so we can contribute from a place of fullness rather than depletion. 

The Right Rest 

Once we make the commitment to prioritize rest, it is important to determine what is truly restful for us. That will be different for everyone. 

Lying on the sofa scrolling through social media might look like rest, but it is often a highly stressful activity that puts our nervous systems into a state of “fight or flight” as if we are being chased by a lion. 

If we listen to our bodies, we will know the difference between a truly restorative activity and an activity that only looks replenishing on the surface. While doing an activity, pay attention to signals your body is giving. Do your muscles feel tense? Do you feel more energetically depleted or disconnected? Do you feel drained afterwards? Those are indications that an activity is not truly restful. 

However, if your muscles relax, if you feel a sense of greater calm, if your breathing becomes slower and deeper, if you feel restored afterwards - these are indications that the activity is supporting you in leaving a state of chronic stress and entering into a state of relaxation. 

Making Time for Rest

Life is often so busy that it might seem there is no time for rest. I hear this a lot in my work with folks. "I just don't have the time."

I invite you to consider whether this is really true.

First, recognize that even three minutes of calm breathing, or singing along with one favorite song, or taking a five minute mindful walk can help bring balance to our nervous systems. 

Then, see if there are already pockets of time when you are doing unnecessary and draining activities. For instance, the average American spends between 2 and 2.5 hours a day on social media. Many people also feel drained and depleted by their time on social media. Hmmm...

Are there time consuming activities such as this that you already engage in? If so, how might you replace just ten minutes a day with something that replenishes you rather than drains you? 

Turtle Steps 

Change is most sustainable when we take small steps toward the life we want. If you are ready create a more balanced life that supports your overall wellbeing by incorporating more rest, it might be tempting to make a big changes right away! If this feels sustainable, by all means, give it a try! 

However, much like big exercise plans that fade away shortly after the new year begins, the same can happen with any change - including this one. So, you might be more successful if you think of one small way to add more rest to your life. 

Now, try making it even smaller. Perhaps make it so small that it seems insignificant. That’s a great place to start! Once you choose one tiny way to incorporate more rest into your life, try that for a week or two and see if you want to add more! 

Celebrate You

Remember, rest is a radical act. Be sure to celebrate yourself for your dedication to your health and wellbeing. You won’t get any awards for being “The Best at Rest,” or taking time for true self-care, but your body will thank you, and that might be the best reward of all!

If you're interested in working with me as you bring more balance to your life, feel free to email me at connect@rhondarobinson.net to learn more about my life-coaching, mindfulness in nature, or yoga nidra offerings.

Wishing you many restful moments!