Tips for Learning How to Rest
Do you struggle to rest?
With the increasing demands and pressures on us as human beings in the current socioeconomic and political climate, learning how to rest is becoming more and more important. I would almost consider rest to be a radical act! When we are unable to rest, stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol are high. Long term activation of the stress response impacts all other processes in the body and contributes to many mental health and physical health conditions.
Let us look at some tips to help you if you currently struggle to rest.
1. Redefine the definition of rest.
For some of us it is very difficult to rest by sitting and doing absolutely nothing. Try defining rest by the way your body and being feels when engaged in a certain activity. We want to aim for a calm nervous system. Perhaps for you, while in the garden your nervous system is calm; you notice that you are at ease, your jaw is unclenched, your body loose.
2. Become aware of the messages you received around rest throughout your life.
What did you learn about resting when you were growing up? Did resting become something that was associated with laziness perhaps? How do these messages show up for you now? Do you believe these messages that your mind automatically comes up with?
3. Notice when you are “pushing through” vs “moving through” tasks.
Again, we want to aim for a restful state as we move through the tasks of daily life. Pushing through looks like: tension, feeling revved up, clenched jaw, tight throat, holding back, doing things you don’t want to do. Moving through: doing the hard things because it aligns with your values, holding yourself when the hard feelings come up, being gentle to yourself, slowing down.
4. Find out what you are running from.
If you find yourself unable to sit down, to slow down, to rest, the best way to find out why is to stop, sit down, do absolutely nothing and notice your thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Write these down. What is it that is so uncomfortable that you are avoiding? What is so hard to tolerate when you actually stop long enough to confront it?
5. Integrate a meditation practice.
Meditation doesn’t have to be difficult. You can start by with choosing a moment in your day that is already a part of your routine. Decide that this will be your “meditation moment”. For example, perhaps you choose brushing your teeth. This would mean setting out to notice the feeling of the brush on your teeth, notice the thoughts that come into your mind and redirect your attention to the movements associated to brushing your teeth. Notice the taste of your toothpaste, the sound of the water flowing, your feet on the ground.
I wish you the best of luck in integrating this important skill!
Sources
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037