True story: I have found myself, bouncing between 10+ open tabs on my computer, attempting to eat lunch, run a load of laundry, create content for my website, catch up on Instagram and talk on the phone all at the same time.

That type of false productivity got me NO where and looking back only left me in a chronic state of stress.

Realizing this has been a game changer but actually changing, calming down and focusing is SO hard, and something I am not perfect at, but something I have determined to prioritize.  Prioritize the quiet, the rest, the calm.

So often when we talk about rest, we solely define it as physical rest.

You’re tired = go take a nap

You worked too much last week = take it easy

You have adrenal issues = you need more sleep at night

ALL true…But is physical rest enough?

While working through some serious adrenal fatigue and brain fog these past few months, I have noticed that a good nights sleep is not solely enough.  

My mental, emotional and spiritual side must be nourished and rested as well!

If we think historically about the way things have been for centuries, stress and stimulation was occasional and intense, but followed by periods of rest.  In modern times, in the course of 15 minutes, the brain could be stimulated by a ringing phone, Instagram story, incoming email, digestive distress since you didn’t have time to eat breakfast, and a project deadline.  Thats ALOT of constant, chronic stress.  

You see, our brain requires down time, requires quiet time to rest and rejuvenate so that it can be creative, innovative and productive.

Just as my husband reminds me daily that having a million tabs open on my computer is not good for computer health, your brain needs to close ALL the tabs occasionally and truly rest.

I think often we fear the silence, we fear the idleness because we think it is a negative, but what if we re-framed our thinking to view silence and rest as a positive, as a time-producing activity.  The space and quiet provides our brain and emotions with the room to grow and expand beyond our wildest imagination.  The space allows us to step back from life and see the big picture and the road ahead.

Downtime replenishes the brain’s capabilities and allows us to be our best possible selves!

But rest isn’t just physical, it has to permeate all aspects of life—our emotions, our brains, our daily activities and our spiritual side, whatever that might mean to you.

Now, rest doesn’t mean going on vacation.  Rest simply is a daily activity that requires intention and consistency.  With time, rest and quiet can be apart of your daily routine just like brushing your teeth or taking the dog for a walk.

Rest is personal and it doesn’t have to be complicated, so don’t over-complicate it! Part of finding balance, a topic I talk about HERE, is not allowing that balance to stress you out or become “picture perfect.”  The same could be said about rest.  Don’t put rest in a box, simply find what works for you and make it an everyday habit!

Some ideas for everyday rest

• Go for an outdoor walk without headphones, music or podcasts.  Just enjoy nature and silence.
• Meditate each morning, focusing on your breathing and clearing your mind.
• Laugh.
• Take a power nap.
• Practice yoga, pilates or another form of exercise that takes your mind off your to-do list.
• Don’t check your email or social media before bed or right when you wake up.
• Do one task at a time and do that task well—focus on being present.
• Have a time each week or even a day when you aren’t electronically “plugged-in”…let this flow in the natural rhythms of your life rather than stressing about a specific time.

Physical rest is easy, because it is more natural and more routine.  Mental rest on the other hand can be awkward and even scary at first, trust me I know! But I can promise you that your health, contentment and productivity while seriously increase when you intentionally take the time each day to rest in every aspect of the word!