Using Rest as Self-Care

Merriam Webster defines rest as “a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities.” From a medical standpoint, resting the body has many beneficial properties (Check out my blog post on sleep). During deep sleep the body rejuvenates itself and regulates our mood. We live in a time where being “booked and busy” is the norm. Most of us constantly move from event to event and thing to thing. There are constant demands on our time and energy. I absolutely live by my planner. It is rare to find a calendar day that is not full of “things to do.”

Recently the universe has reminded me of the need to rest. It is essential to ease the stress on the mind and the body. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in “doing” that we forget to provide rest for our temples. When we are tired, we are not functioning at our best, putting increased strain on our bodies. We are more prone to illness due to compromised immunity. Our mood is also affected by fatigue.

I must admit that I am guilty of over-filling my plate and not appropriately resting my mind and body. I mentally and physically push myself consistently. This is not a healthy practice. Rest does not always mean sleep (even though adequate sleep is necessary for proper body function). It is important to spend time being mindless, doing things that are not strenuous. It could be a lazy day by the pool, reading a book for pleasure, or just resting in bed catching up on your DVR recordings. Remember your mask first…take your rest!

Here’s to your health!