Rest Is Key to Rebound
Breaking Out of a Rut and Regaining Control
When life feels most overwhelming, our natural tendency can be to do more. When we find ourselves struggling with anxiety, we may hit the gym to find relief in a flood of endorphins. We think that work stress may be alleviated if we simply put in extra hours to eliminate tasks from our to-do lists. We think that relationship issues may resolve themselves if we give more time, energy, and attention to others.
All of these coping mechanisms for life’s challenges have one thing in common: they neglect our need for rest. When we burn the candle at both ends, we can actually do more damage than good.
“It can go against our natural inclinations to take a step back when our plates are overflowing, but a period of rest can be exactly what your body and mind need to come back stronger than ever.”
In my therapy practice, I work with clients who are feeling overwhelmed. Oftentimes, they’re questioning how to get out of a rut they’ve found themselves in, in which they feel as though they’re spinning their wheels without gaining any forward momentum. I know you are capable of breaking through the rut to find your groove and regain control of your life, and I want to help you figure out how.
How Rest Leads to Strength
Think about the science behind gaining physical strength. We don’t get stronger while working out; we gain strength when we’re resting.
When we stress our bodies (such as through weightlifting, running, or any other form of exercise), we create microscopic tears in our muscle fibers. In the rest period following physical exercise, our body fortifies those muscles, making them stronger than before and therefore more capable of handling the stressors.
The same principle holds true for all kinds of strength! Deep rest can not only help us reduce stress in the moment, but can have long-term impacts to our overall physical, mental, and emotional health. In fact, at its core, rest is an act of self-compassion.
When to Recognize You Need Recovery
If we don’t get a head start on ensuring we allow ourselves to rest, our bodies will inevitably force it in the form of injury, illness, burnout or all of the above. Here are some key cues to pay attention to, to recognize that your body is craving a pause. Think of them as the “yellow flags” before your body throws up the “red flag.”
Fatigue – When your energy suffers, assess the root cause(s). Similarly, analyze whether you’re lacking motivation.
Restlessness – Poor sleep can be a telltale sign that you need more of it.
Anxiety and Depression – Your mood is one of the first things affected when you need rest.
For more signs on how to read the signs and signals available to you from within, this Time article is a great resource.
How to Prioritize Self-care In Your Busy Schedule
So, you’ve seen the warning signs. You know you need rest, but you don’t know how. Here are the first three things I would recommend to add rest into your routine:
Prioritize sleep – Sleep is a cornerstone of stress management and self-care, but we often don’t practice what we preach. Sleep affects our memory, judgment, mood, and more, and the American Psychological Association reports that nearly half of Americans rate their sleep as “fair” or “poor.” If you’re feeling sluggish, see how your health, energy, and outlook could shift with a bedtime shift.
Pro-Tip: When shifting your bedtime, note whether you’re a night owl or a morning person. Don’t force yourself to do something that’s already going to be an uphill battle.
Take a Pause – You don’t need to be fully asleep to benefit from a “brain break,” or a period of meaningful rest. In fact, it’s reported that activities such as meditation, yoga, breathwork, prayer, guided visualizations, and sound therapy can all turn on our parasympathetic nervous systems (the part of our nervous system that allows our bodies to relax and conserve energy) and lead to “optimal health and vitality.” Talk therapy can also be a way to unload the things that are plaguing our mind, and additionally shut off our sympathetic nervous system.
Audit Your Calendar – What is taking up space in your schedule that could be cut out? Assess what is filling your cup and what is draining it, and make changes in the coming week to set yourself up for success.
You’re Not Alone In Your Need for Rest
In today’s always-on, hustle-focused world, it can feel like prioritizing recovery can be a setback, as everything continues chugging along around us. However, think about it:
The best sports teams in the world utilize time-outs when they need to rest, reenergize, and refocus.
The best companies in the world know that allowing employees time off is key to getting the most out of them.
The best athletes in the world schedule full rest days (or even rest weeks or months) into their training to adapt, reflect, recover, and come back stronger than ever.
“Simply put, rest isn’t weakness. In fact, it’s the exact opposite.”
Do You Need Help Figuring Out How to Take a Break?
Prioritizing rest can sometimes be easier said than done. Schedule a consultation today to explore just how you can figure out how to get your health back on track through taking a step back.
