Let yourself rest

Have you heard the expression “I’ll rest when I’m dead?”

This quote has been attributed to Madonna, Steve Harvey, and even Bon Jovi, who has a song titled “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” I’m not quite sure where the quote originated, but that’s beside the point.

The point of this blog is to call BS on this mindset that we need to “hustle harder” or “rise and grind” to get ahead — that we only get to rest when we’re dead and no longer able to enjoy life.

For decades, we’ve glorified this work-obsessed mindset while ignoring the consequences. And, believe it or not, the pandemic has only exacerbated the issue. According to new research, workers around the world put in an average of 9.2 hours of unpaid overtime per week. You read that correctly: unpaid overtime!

Since the pandemic, our work weeks have become longer; we exchange emails, Slack, and Teams messages at midnight as the lines between our personal and professional lives blur. I can attest to this because, throughout the pandemic, I used to start my days an hour earlier, and I still do on days when I work from home.

This is why the terms “burnout” and “work-life balance” are more popular now than ever.

Unlike past generations, we now understand the implications of overwork and the toll burnout can take on our mental and physical health. Additionally, the pandemic has been effective in bringing to light the things that matter most — health, family, and relationships.

I encourage you to incorporate rest into your weekly routine.

Rest to relieve stress.
Rest to recover your strength.
Rest to recharge your creativity.
Rest to restore your energy.
Rest to regain your balance.
Rest so you can be present.

Our bodies are like a glass of water, with water representing everything we put into it, both good and bad. The glass can only hold so much, and I’m sure many of us are walking around with a full glass these days.

The right type of rest can help you empty your glass, feel recharged, and get back to your balanced self.

Did you know there are 7 different types of rest? I didn’t until I discovered Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith research on the matter. The seven types of rest are physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, social, sensory, and creative. Each type of rest has distinct qualities that will manifest if you are deficient.

After learning more about this topic, I’ve since realized that I’m in need of mental and creative rest. For the past few weeks, I’ve had difficulty remembering or retaining basic information. If I had a penny for every time I walked into a room to look for something only to forget the moment I stepped inside. I also lack that spark — that creative motivation — something I did not previously lack.

Now that I know what kind of rest I need, I plan to put this theory to the test this holiday weekend, and you should too. Allow yourself to rest this holiday weekend.

How full is your glass? What kind of rest do you think you need? Share your thoughts in the comments below.