Why intentional rest is a key pillar of our health
The power of rest
Rest is the antidote to the impact of stress on our health and hormones
We are very much in a time when productivity and busyness is prioritised
It’s this idea that being non-stop is how you become successful and taking time to rest is seen as a luxury rather than a necessity ~ a belief I held for a very long time… until my body told me otherwise
This is leaving us stressed, exhausted, and believing that the symptoms we are experiencing are normal and an inevitable part of being “busy” (they’re not!)
With small changes to how we think about rest, it is possible to find that balance again… and all WITHOUT having to make huge changes in your life, including quitting your job ~ one of my pet hates is health advice that is impossible to translate to the corporate setting that so many of us are in! Few jobs now have certain start and end times: we leave the office with our work phones and laptops, the emails don’t stop and working overtime is the norm
So it is about finding ways to incorporate micro-habits into our days that are both achievable and super effective when it comes to transforming how we are feeling
So why does rest matter?
Quite simply, it is the antidote to the impact of stress on our health and hormones ~ it is how we let our body know it is safe
We are spending less and less time without outside noise and we have a constant stream of stimulation and distraction from work, emails, social media, social plans, watching TV, plugging headphones in as soon as we leave the house and so on… we rarely give ourselves a moment to pause
And this is having a physiological impact as it means we are not coming out of our stress response ~ but, what is this?
Our autonomic nervous system has two sides ~ “fight or flight” and “rest and digest”. Both are crucial for our health, but they are triggered by different stimuli and have distinct effects on the body
As the name suggests, “fight or flight” is the stressed side of things and is when your brain triggers the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, and tells your body to divert its attention away from any processes that are not essential for survival ~ the focus all goes on your hands and feet to get you ready to run from the tiger! Your gut, digestion, hair and reproductive hormones? Last on the list!
While necessary for survival, chronic activation of it without adequate rest and recovery has detrimental effects. We are waking up and immediately jumping on the train of high stress hormones throughout the day and I know from my own journey and what I see with my clients, that the effects of this are far-reaching ~ from hormonal imbalances to digestive issues, fatigue, poor memory, low immunity, hair loss and being unable to keep up relationships, these can all be the result of chronic stress
And if that’s not enough to convince you that rest matters, the benefits go further than just your stress levels with evidence showing that after taking a break:
— your productivity massively increases
— you perform the tasks better
— you think more clearly, allowing creativity and new ideas to flow
— your energy levels totally transform
How do we rest?
One misconception I hear a lot from my clients is well if I sleep well, I am getting enough rest…
Sleep is actually only one component of rest! There are actually 7 different types of rest: physical, mental, emotional, sensory, creative, social, and spiritual ~ and each play a vital role to counter the daily stressors we go through
Each are about having intentional periods of restfulness and restoration when we are awake, and the word “intentional” there is key ~ to incorporate these into our day to day, we do have to be proactive and intentional with it (especially at first)
The good news? Even 5 minutes will make a difference ~ think of:
starting your day with exposure to natural light to regulate your circadian rhythm and balance your hormones ~ spending time outdoors or near an open window is a great way to do this
using the time it takes to make a coffee, tea or matcha to be present ~ notice and take note of how you’re breathing, your thoughts and how you’re feeling
incorporating silent movement ~ aka going on a walk without headphones, music or a podcast
small acts of kindness ~ smiling at a stranger or holding the door open shifts your focus away from the stress of your day and reconnects you to the present moment
having a practice that you do between work and sleep to signal to your body that you’re done for the day ~ whether it’s going to an evening walk, your skincare routine or having a bath, it’s about picking something that is away from your laptop and the TV
Last thoughts
Reframing how you think about rest is one of the best things you can do for your health ~ let’s shift from thinking it is a waste of time or a luxury not available to all of us, and see it as a strategic move to maintain your focus, momentum and overall well-being
And if you want to hear more in this topic, catch up on my conversation with Kylie from SANA (THE matcha brand to know!) all about intentional rest, some sneaky signs of stress that we might not think of and more!