Author: Brandy Metz, MSN, APRN, AGNP-C

Rest

“Take rest. A field that has rested gives a beautiful crop.” ~ Ovid

I love the practice of yoga. Yoga teaches an awareness of listening to your body and honoring its needs. Everyday you come to the mat you meet yourself where you are today, regardless of how you performed yesterday. Everyday is different. There is no expectation to place the same demands on ourselves every practice. Some days are for performing at your best and growing in strength and power, and some days are for restoration and long stays in passive poses. And that’s the beauty of yoga. You learn to give yourself permission to be where you are in this moment, without frustration, or judgment, or expectation. Yoga is a practice of being mindful, and present, and respecting what your body needs today and only today. And sometimes, what you need is rest. 

“There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.” ~ Alan Cohen

Rest is the time for healing. It is the time for you to recover from the demands of life.  The body needs rest. The mind and soul need rest. God himself took rest and commanded humanity to do the same. It is important. We are not designed to over work ourselves into perpetuity. There is an over emphasis on drive and productivity. Society over-values the restless who work overtime, take no days off, and constantly push themselves beyond realistic limits. There are a thousand philosophies and strategies about ‘try harder’, ‘keep pushing’, ‘be constantly motivated’, ‘’you gotta want it’. ‘Go go go. Charge charge charge. Do do do.’ To no end. It is not realistic, it is not sustainable, and it is not human. You are not a machine. You are very much human, and every system and cell of your body requires ample rest to maintain homeostasis or you will court disease. Rest is not weakness, laziness, a luxury, or something to be earned. It is a biological, psychological, and spiritual requirement which should be held in higher regard. Rest is the agency in which you repair, restore, rejuvenate, regenerate, and renew. And it is not optional. 

“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.” ~ Mark Black

Rest is like filling up your gas tank. If you continue to run on fumes, you will burn out eventually. Everything will come to a grinding halt. You have to respect your need for rest and take the time to refuel, or you will suffer consequences. Stop for gas before you run out. Seize every opportunity to rest when a rest stop is available. Running on a full tank makes for a much smoother, more enjoyable driving experience. Fuel up as frequently as possible and be fully maintenanced so you can operate at peak performance for wherever the journey ahead takes you. Rest yourself before you wreck yourself. 

“Make the best use of what is in your power and take rest as it happens.” ~ Epictetus 

Burn out does not look good on anyone. We’ve all been there. We’ve all been overburdened, exhausted, frayed out, emotionally spent, and can’t think or function effectively. Overworked and overstressed is not a state of accomplishment. It is not what you strive for. It is to no one’s benefit. It is caused by a lack of healthy boundaries, and an inability to prioritize rest. “You cannot pour from an empty cup.”~ Unknown. Overworking only serves to diminish your entire wellbeing. When you are mentally and physically exhausted your immunity is reduced, and you become vulnerable to sickness. Illness is sometimes the body’s way of enforcing needed rest. You’ll be forced into rest if you neglect it.

“Burn out is what happens when you try to avoid being human for too long.” ~ Michael Gungor

Prioritize the time to be unburdened and rest. Disengage. Unplug. Unclutter your mind. Cease your toil. Put down your problems. Place your responsibilities on hold. They will be there when you return. Be free of them for as long and as often as you can. Just relax, so you can return refreshed and ready to take it all on again, better than before.

“Sometimes the soul needs a little rest to come back to it’s very best.” ~ E. Russell

Tahitian people are some of the most bright and vibrant people you’ve ever met. They maintain their vibrancy by incorporating time to be what is called ‘fiu’ (pronounced few). Fiu is the state of being happily lazy and relaxed. Chilin. It’s part of the culture. In French Polynesia, everything is closed on Sundays. The people take the day off to not work, do what they want, be free and be fiu. Take time to be fiu. It maintains the vibrancy of your soul. Work hard, play hard, rest hard. 

“Wisdom is knowing when to have rest, when to have activity, and how much of each to have.” — Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Somedays are for charging and some days are for recharging. Everybody’s energy is full of peaks and valleys. Meet yourself where you are. Take rest in the valley to power you through the peaks. Do something where there are no expectations and nothing is required of you. Become one with your couch. Schedule precious time to yourself to just lay around and be. Learn the art of doing nothing. Prioritize nothing. Accomplish nothing. Recharge with no shame and no guilt. It is crucial. This is not weak, lazy, wasteful, or idle. This is balancing, healing, energizing, and necessary for your wellbeing. 

“Drink from the well of yourself and begin again.” ~ Charles Bukowski

Give yourself permission to take rest when you need it. Release the stressors, demands, and burdens of life. Take a pause. Refuel. Be fiu. It’s for the greater good. Rest provides clarity of mind, body, and spirit. To be your best self, or to at least give it your best shot. Honor the rest that you require. Prioritize it. Fill your cup, good and often, and return to your life restored, revived, and overflowing.