A Case for Rest
We've all been there before…
Coming up on a deadline, feeling like every waking hour not spent working is wasted time.
Or the Saturday after a really long week - when all you want is to sleep - your kids wake you up at 5:30 am ready to go.
Or when your phone buzzes before bed and you have to log onto your computer for the next hour to get something done.
It's that feeling when no amount of coffee is going to save you. When anxiety runs high, when the odds feel stacked against you, and you have to just gut it out. Push forward, because what other options are there?
It's an overwhelming feeling.
The pressure to always be on - to always be productive - takes a toll. But it's in these moments, where if we can find ways to rest the mind, we're able to step back and approach life with more clarity.
What happens when we're always on?
Think of your brain like a pond. Every input your brain receives - everything from emails and conversations to car horns and traffic lights - is like a rock being thrown into the pond. All day, we're throwing rocks into the water. Some of the rocks, like an Instagram notification, are smaller. Some of the rocks, like a key client meeting, are bigger.
When we have a lot of inputs, the splashing of the rocks builds into waves. They're jumbled, going every which way. The bigger rocks kick up a lot of mud when they hit the bottom and cloud the water. The more we throw in, the more chaotic the pond gets.
What happens when we stop throwing rocks into the pond?
The water starts to calm. The waves subside. Eventually, the mud at the bottom settles.
After a while, the water is glass and we can see the bottom.
When we stop throwing rocks, we notice things we've never seen in the pond. We see the contours, the patterns, and have a sense of clarity that wasn't there when we were throwing rocks in the water. The formerly chaotic pond becomes clear and peaceful.
Rest happens in the moments where stop throwing rocks into the pond and give our brains a break from input.
But in today's world, where everything is structured to constantly provide input, how do we create space for our brain to rest and find clarity?
Below are nine ways to find more rest in your life, bucketed into small, medium, and big ways. Everyone's life circumstances are different, so some of these may or may not be accessible. It should, however, be a great jumping off place to figure out what works best for you.
Ways we can find rest
Small
The phoneless walk - Step outside and move your body for 15 minutes without your phone. No one can reach you and you don't have any distractions like music or texts. Tune into what's happening around you… The sounds, the visuals, the feelings within you. One of our Sand and Salt Escapes instructors, Jon, recently led us through a barefoot walk in the jungle of Nosara where with each step, we had to narrate in our heads "Left foot up, left foot out, left foot down. Right foot up, right foot out, right foot down." It was incredible how much we had to slow down and the awareness that came with it.
The silent drive - The next time you're in the car by yourself, sit in silence. Don't turn on a podcast, the radio, or make a phone call. Just sit in the silence and let your brain wander. See what thoughts and feelings come forward.
Yoga, breathwork, or meditation - These are three of the oldest, most mindful activities you can do. As little as 5-10 minutes when you're feeling stressed or anxious is enough to reduce blood pressure and recenter. Apps like Nike Training Club and Headspace make these practices accessible at home and on-the-go.
Medium
Establish clear boundaries at work - With remote work so prevalent, there can be expectation or temptation to be always available. Reflect on your non-negotiable time and share that with your team or clients. Block your calendar, put on your out of office, remove Outlook from your phone. What's acceptable changes by industry, company, and role, but you should know what your non-negotiables are and have safeguards to protect them.
Vacations - Schedule these in advance. It's so easy to not plan ahead, and when we don't, we all the sudden find ourselves halfway through the year without proper time off and feeling pressure to focus on projects or other work the rest of the year. Schedule and protect this time.
Retreats - You can find retreats for almost any purpose. There are retreats for writing, meditation, exercise - even snake massage. Retreats are spaces where you can significantly limit the inputs to your brain and focus on a single intention.
Big
Sabbatical - If your job offers it, explore taking a sabbatical. Use the time to pursue what you're passionate about, and if you're not sure what that is, use the space to discover that.
Leave time between jobs - When I was considering leaving consulting, I was determined to know what I would be doing next before putting in my notice. As I was talking to someone about the potential transition, they challenged me to just put in my notice without having a plan. It ran counter to everything I've ever believed, but the thought of having a month or two of focusing on myself was incredible. I was really grateful for that challenge. If you're transitioning jobs or careers and can afford to do so, leave time off between. Not just a week, but several. Take advantage of the rare opportunity to not have work responsibilities.
Rethink career progression - It's easy to heap pressure on ourselves to progress our careers. But career progression comes in seasons and there are times where it just isn't feasible to keep pushing. Maybe we have a loved one who is sick at home. Maybe we just had a kid and we want to spend time with them. Or maybe we're just feeling burnt out and need to reclaim some time to ourselves. Whatever the reason, know that career progression isn't always linear and there will both be times to push and times to relax.
Before we can do any of this though, we have to be aware that we need rest. Our bodies are constantly giving us feedback; we just need to pay attention. Here's what happens to me when I know I need rest:
My memory is poor. I do things like forget what I was about to say or can't come up with certain words.
My sleep is impacted. The biggest sign for me is when I go to bed and dream about work… That's when I know I need a break.
I lose motivation to do the things I normally do. When I need rest, I find myself not meal prepping, not shaving as often, and generally avoiding all normal habits.
Over the next few days, pay attention to the rocks you're throwing into the pond and ask yourself two questions:
What rocks am I throwing into the pond that I don't need to?
How can I carve out time where I'm not throwing rocks into the pond?
