Our therapists often have conversations with clients and friends about the idea of rest.
Sometimes, when presented with a few days or even weeks off, anxiety can be brought on by simply the thought of having downtime.
We don’t know how to relax or how to incorporate rest into our everyday life. Rest can be taking a nap or getting a good night’s sleep, but the rest this blog is going to focus on is as Merriam Webster defines: “a peace of mind or spirit” or “to be free from anxiety or disturbance.”
“Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength…it is wisdom to take occasional furlough. In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less.”
Charles Spurgeon
It is our responsibility to figure out what rest is and how to begin working from a place of peace versus counting down to rest.
Below are a couple of strategies toward how to rest.
The key to each of these activities is to find the balance within yourself to enjoy, relaxing into the activity without striving or performing.
- Writing
- Working out or walking
- Enjoying a cup of coffee or tea in a mug
- Reading
- Learning something new
- Spending time with friends
- Cooking
- Enjoying any activity without being rushed from place to place
- Unplugging from phones or media
- Asking and doing: What other activities are restful for you?
Written by: GROW Staff
