Resting

Rest.

Why do we often overlook rest? We often scorn at the idea of resting, seeing it for those who are ‘lazy’ or ‘weaker’. The sentiment that those who rest aren’t ‘cut out’ for this productivity driven society can be heard all around. The capitalist society does not thrive on those resting, who would drive the stock markets, create an abundance of profit if we were all resting?

To say that we must all rest all the time, for the same amount of time and in the same way would be an oversight- potentially pushing this idea to the extreme. The idea to rest more is intertwined with the semantic that in order to rest properly, we need to be aligned with ourselves. We need to hold deep understanding of what our body and mind needs to rest fully, for each of us are individuals, living different lives, in bodies that have different requirements and in minds that can not be replicated.

For a few years, my idea of what resting looked liked for me was to watch Netflix at home and ‘do nothing’. Although my body was rested, my mind was not. Often, if I had watched particularly intense shows, or reality shows, I found myself in a less than restful state. It has taken time to understand what my mind and body have needed separately in order to rest, and how I can find restful activities that unite the two. As I view the mind and body from a dualist perspective, I do believe the mind and body may require different activities for resting. 

Firstly, to truly understand how much rest we need, we need to become more in tune with the seasons. I am writing this in winter, a season dedicated for rest, hibernation and rejuvenation, where rest seems more imperative now than any other time of year. In winter, we may still feel a pressure to keep up a certain workout routine or still socialise until late at night. However, just as nature and certain animals hibernate in winter, we also crave hibernation during the harsh long days of winter. Our circadian rhythms are determined by the sun, where we naturally fall into a sleep cycle that is reflective of the sun's cycle. As the sun has a shorter cycle in winter, we must then allow a longer sleep cycle to be introduced into our daily lives. Create small changes in your life to allow more time for sleep, for me, it has been to change my workout routine. I usually only have time to workout in the evenings, however I have reduced the amount of workouts I do in order to prioritise getting to bed earlier. By doing this, I have not only increased my amount of sleep, but also found more time to do a 20 minute yoga practice before bed. Try and look at activities or expectations that you can surrender in winter, in order to allow more sleep. 

Another way we can allow more rest or even a state of restfulness in our lives is to intentionally slow down and invite stillness into our lives. Spring, summer and autumn are often filled with activities, increased work schedules and lots of socialising, so let winter be a time of stillness. In the winter, I will often light a candle and sit in the silence of the calm morning and have my breakfast. I don’t often love sitting in silence, but by allowing the quiet into my life, I feel as though I automatically slow down. I don’t have an alberate morning routine, in winter, I prioritise sleep and starting my day as gently as I can. For many individuals, kids, work and other demands may impede on our ability to have a restful morning. So I suggest finding pockets of time where you  allow your mind and body to rest.

Often, it is in those pockets of time, those fleeting minutes where rest and stillness is most needed.

By reading a few chapters on your lunch break, or sitting on a park bench for a few minutes will allow your nervous system to be restored to a more calm state. In the evenings, find other activities to do, such as drawing, relaxing on the sofa with the gentle chatter of those around you to entertain you or getting back into a hobby that you lost over the past year. 

Through the winter season, if we allow ourselves to expect less from ourself, we then will feel the pressure of society and others be lifted. Reducing the goals or check lists we expect to complete or achieve in winter, we are inadvertently preparing for spring. Our energy levels are naturally and significantly reduced in winter, so why are we expecting to achieve the same amount as when we have more energy in the summer? For different people, the expectation will naturally differ, but for everyone, resting more is a must. In those moments and spaces of time where we are still, we often experience more. I have found that no matter how much sleep I get, I feel as though I need more. Although my body desires more sleep, the demands of my life do not allow it, so I have endeavored to find other ways to be in a restful state; I have switched watching TV for reading, to allow my brain to unwind in the silence of my book, Instead of going for a long and intense morning walk, I opt for a slower walk, often stopping to appreciate the beauty around me.

I hope you are able to adjust areas of your life to invite more restful time into it, whether you socialise a little less, or see friends for coffee instead of going out, workout in a different way or just less in general. Every time I voice to my friends and family how I have decreased energy levels in winter, I am often met with a chorus of agreement and understanding. The first step to allowing more rest into your life, is truly letting yourself rest more whilst accepting that depending on the seasons, or your own life circumstances, it may be in your best interest to slow down.

I hope some time, rest and rejuvenation reach you in your busy life,

 Beatrice x