Have you ever noticed how proud we are as a society to be busy? Ask a friend how she’s been doing and you’re less likely to hear HOW she’s been and more likely to hear a list of WHAT she’s been doing. We are all guilty of overpacking our schedules and making sure that people know we are busy. Today’s fast-paced culture tends to glorify being busy. We have somehow made the social determination that a person who is busy is important.
All the demand for hustle and productivity often leaves the concept of rest and recovery overlooked and undervalued. In a world where we’re constantly being told to hustle, work harder, and never stop, it’s easy to forget the crucial role that rest and recovery play in our overall health and well-being. But taking time to rest your body and mind is just as important as working hard to complete our to-do lists and accomplish our goals.
Mental Exhaustion Takes a Physical Toll
Giving your body time for rest and recovery is so critical because it helps to prevent burnout. When we’re always on the go and our brain is always churning through challenges and creating solutions it can be easy to reach a point of exhaustion (especially when the day’s challenges aren’t met with all the resources, we need to reach our desired outcomes). Taking time to rest and recover can help to prevent burnout and ensure that we’re functioning at our best, both physically and mentally. In fact, rest increases our creativity and strengthens our cognitive skills as our bodies rebalance hormone levels. Productive rest can actually improve our mental ability to cope with stress and develop creative approaches to our busy task lists.
The Human Body and Mind Perform Best with Necessary Rest and Recovery
It’s also important to note that rest and recovery are critical for physical recovery and growth. When we workout, for example, we’re actually breaking down our muscles. It’s during the rest and recovery period that our muscles actually grow and become stronger as the muscle fibers repair in the sleep process. The same goes for mental recovery – when we’re constantly on the go, it can be easy to become mentally exhausted. Taking time to rest and recover can help to prevent mental burnout and ensure that we’re functioning at our best. We literally gain mental and physical strength in our bodies while we sleep.
Now, I know what you might be thinking – “Who has time for more sleep? Hours my eyes are closed are hours that I’m not being productive.” But that’s where we need to flip the script. In fact, taking time to rest and recover can actually make us more productive in the long run. When we’re well-rested and feeling good, we’re able to work harder, be more focused and creative, and make better decisions.
So, what can we do to make sure that we’re getting enough sleep to help our bodies and minds recover and strengthen? Well, there are a few things you can do to help ensure that you’re taking care of yourself. First and foremost, make getting enough sleep each night a priority. Aim for 8 hours of sleep each night to ensure that you’re well-rested and ready to tackle the day ahead.
Rest is an example of self-care. All too often, we push self-care measures to the bottom of our priority list. It’s an unintentional decision. We start off with the plan to get to bed at a reasonable hour, but something comes up with a work project or a family member that causes us to remain busy (mentally or physically). It’s time to reprioritize self-care! Boost your self-care routine and create opportunities for your body to recover with a few simple steps:
- Start your bedtime routine at the same time each night. Your brain is already used to keeping appointments in your busy schedule. Make this appointment with yourself – which means this isn’t time for other people to fill up your calendar.
- Find or create a calming music playlist that sets the tone for relaxation. Most of us play our music or meditations on our phones – which can also be a source of distraction and stress. Be sure that your ringer and notifications are set to silent and that only the media volume is activated.
- Mist your pillow with the PureRoutine Deep Sleep Pillow Spray to help you fall asleep faster and wake up feeling refreshed. The organic, vegan, skin safe ingredients from the highest quality essential oils are scientifically proven to encourage a deep night’s sleep.
- Attempt to focus on breathing slowly and with intention when your head hits the pillow. If your mind starts to wander that’s ok. Just remind yourself to return to your breathing.
Whatever helps you to relax and unwind is what’s most important. Just make sure you’re taking the time to do something for yourself each day.
Don’t let your physical and mental health take a bake seat to productivity! Despite the fact that our culture glorifies being busy and working hard, it’s important to remember that taking time to rest and recover is just as important as working hard and putting in the effort. So, make sure you’re getting enough sleep each night, taking time for self-care, and taking regular breaks throughout the day. Your body and mind will thank you!
Image Credit: Photo by Andreas Klassen on Unsplash