You’ve revved your engine, hit the gas pedal and have been cruising past goals and achievements – but, you’re starting to notice the fuel gauge has been slowly creeping toward “E.” If you’re like me, you’ll tempt fate and let it ride until the day you’re running late for work, it’s snowing, and you forgot your wallet, to realize that you DESPERATELY need gas. Sound relatable? Now consider the times where you’ve pushed yourself to the absolute limit professionally or personally – when you’ve had no more gas left in the tank – what happened?
What should you do when you notice the low fuel indicator light has turned on? Stop and get gas. Rest yourself and prepare for what’s to come. Our indicator lights all show up differently, as I touched on last week in Changing the Trajectory.
Intentional rest is a carved out moment in time where you shut off devices, spend time in a quiet space, and breathe.
Let’s talk about the simplicity and necessity of intentional rest. Not just head-hit-pillow sleep at the end of the day, intentional rest is a carved out moment in time where you shut off devices, spend time in a quiet space, and breathe. This type of rest is important for our bodies and minds, allows us to refuel and can change our perspective. If you’re wondering how you’ll fit this into your busy schedule, let me remind you of the zen saying, “if you don’t have time to meditate for an hour, then you need to meditate for two hours.”
Now, let's break it down step by step, so you can see how easy it is to implement a brief rest (5-10 minutes) into your day.
Materials You’ll Need:
- A quiet space
- A comfy bed, chair, or couch
- A pillow or blanket (optional)
- Calm music or sounds (optional)
Steps:
1. Find a Quiet Place
First, choose a place where you feel comfortable and where there’s no loud noise or distractions. This could be your bedroom, a cozy corner, or any space where you can relax. Put your phone on “do not disturb.”
2. Get Comfy
Lie down or sit in a comfy position. If you want, use a pillow to support your head or a blanket to keep warm. The goal is to feel relaxed.
3. Close your Eyes and Breathe
Close your eyes gently. Focus on your breathing. Take slow, deep breaths in through your nose, then breathe out slowly through your mouth. This helps your body calm down.
4. Incorporate Thoughts of Calm
Imagine that each breath in is bringing in calmness, and each breath out is releasing stress. Let your body feel heavy and relaxed. Try not to think about to-do lists or dinner plans, this might be the hardest part at first.
5. Optional: Listen to Relaxing Sounds
If you like, you can play soft music or nature sounds like rain or ocean waves. This can help you rest even more deeply.
6. Stay in Rest Mode for 5-10 Minutes
Resting doesn’t mean you need to sleep. Just taking a break for about 10 minutes can make you feel refreshed. Longer is lovely, but do what you can to let your body recharge.
Tips:
- No phone or watching TV while resting.
- Try to rest at the same time each day to build a routine.
- If you fall asleep, you may need to get more sleep at night! This should be conscious, intentional rest.
Rest is simple, so simple we often skip it thinking that we “rested” on the couch watching TV, or rested all night asleep. This type of rest allows you to recognize that no matter the pause you take, you can come back to your busy schedule, goals and notifications – after taking time for yourself. By following these easy steps, you may feel more relaxed and ready to take on the next part of your day. Resting is a way to care for yourself, it can help you feel better physically and mentally, and it will allow for you to continue down the goal-highway you’ve created.
What do you think? Are you getting any intentional rest in your day? Let me know by connecting with me at upsidedownphysio@gmail.com, on instagram, or via the comment section here!
Good Luck,
Kaylee
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