To Rest
To rest is to cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh ourselves, and recover our strength. Too many of us practice only part of that definition. We stop working for a few hours. We pause long enough to get five or six hours of sleep. Then we wake up and begin again before our minds and bodies have truly recovered.
We do it because we are committed to the people and responsibilities in our lives. We do it because we want to be dependable. Many of us are balancing demanding careers while raising children, maintaining relationships, supporting family and friends, attending events, and for some, continuing our education. If we looked honestly at our schedules, we would probably wonder how we manage to carry so much at once.
For a while, we convince ourselves we are superhuman.
Until burnout arrives.
Sometimes burnout does not look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like sitting in your car for a few extra minutes because you are too exhausted to walk inside. Sometimes it looks like waking up tired no matter how long you slept. Sometimes it is answering one more phone call, attending one more event, or completing one more task while quietly realizing you have nothing left to give yourself.
That is why real rest requires courage.
It takes courage to tell people, responsibilities, and even ourselves, “Wait for a while.” It takes courage to believe that pausing is not laziness and that recovery is not selfishness. Real rest means allowing ourselves time to recuperate and return to ourselves fully.
It is okay to spend a quiet afternoon in a jacuzzi or beside a fireplace with a good book and a comforting drink. It is okay to take long walks through nature without feeling guilty for being unproductive. It is okay to reconnect with the things that make you feel alive, peaceful, and whole.
What are you passionate about? Do not let it disappear beneath your responsibilities.
Putting ourselves first is not an act of selfishness. It is an act of preservation. We cannot continue pouring into others when we never allow ourselves to be replenished. Strength is not found in constantly pushing beyond our limits. Sometimes strength is found in knowing when to stop, rest, and begin again.