The Importance of Rest
Why Rest Should Be A Priority— Not An Afterthought
Rest is essential for your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It allows your body to recharge, your mind to reset, and your soul to connect with God. When you neglect rest, you risk burnout, stress, and even illness.
But what is true rest?
It doesn’t have to mean a nap in a hammock— although most of us would find that very appealing. Rest can be as simple as breaking the cycle of your normal day-to-day routine. It could look like trading your normal lazy Sunday morning with a hike or stroll through nature on your own. Even if you were able to carve out half an hour to sit down with that book you’ve been meaning to read for the past 6 weeks... Whatever it may look like for you, allow yourself some time to return to whatever really lights you up inside.
4 Reasons Why You Should Be Prioritizing Rest
1. Rest Restores Your Energy
If you ever find it hard to concentrate, stay productive, and enjoy the things you love, you may be running on empty. We are conditioned to jump from one task to the next, day after day and somehow we wonder why we are so tired. From projects to carpooling, deadlines to afterschool activities, most families are on a constant hampster wheel— of course you’re exhausted! That’s why rest is so important to your mental and physical energy source– it allows you to reset and recharge… Let’s face it, we’re not machines, and yet even our most important possession (our phones) even need to reset and recharge…
2. Rest Relieves Stress
Stress can cause havoc on your physical, emotional, and spiritual health– I should know, I dig myself into the burnout hole often! If you neglect true rest, it can lead to headaches, insomnia, anxiety, and depression. When you take time to rest, you give your body and mind a chance to relax and unwind, which can help to reduce stress and promote a sense of calm.
3. Rest Fosters Creativity
Do you ever feel like the pieces just don’t seem to fit? Maybe you are having a hard time connecting the dots to a work project or the relationships that were once easy, seem to have formed some sort of disconnect. Perhaps having a new set of eyes on the situation would be helpful but you just can’t seem to step back in order to do so. You might be in a creative rut. You may not realize it but we rely on our creativity to get through many of our day-to-day tasks. But creativity can be difficult to sustain if you're always on the go. When you take time to rest, you allow your mind to wander and explore new ideas, which can lead to fresh insights and inspiration.
4. Rest Allows You to Connect With God
Rest is an essential spiritual practice– it’s commanded of us! God wants us to rest because he knew the kind of lives we would all live. God knows it’s part of our nature to want to take things into our own hands and “get things done” so he set the example himself to show the importance of rest.
Through the lens of The Sabbath— by allowing yourself rest, you are not only being obedient, but you are also essentially saying 1) “The world really won’t fall apart without me” 2) “I trust you God”, by giving yourself over to him and trusting him to provide all your needs even if you take your foot off the pedal. When you take time to rest, you create space to connect with God and listen to his voice. Rest allows you to slow down and focus on what's truly important, rather than getting caught up in the busyness of life.
One final thought– when you're resting, be fully present in the moment. Whether you're spending time in nature, practicing mindfulness, or simply enjoying a good book, allow yourself to fully immerse in the experience and savor the moment.
Xoxo,
Tera