The Underappreciated Value of Rest

Labor Day rolls around and we think of BBQ’s and a final day of summer fun. Companies and (even a few) stores shut down in honor of giving their employees the day to unwind and rest before a new season of busyness begins. You know, football, football… oh, and more football. It’s the time of year where we start to wind things down a little bit, look back at our achievements and hibernate, so to speak.

How often do you take time to just simply rest? No, we don’t mean laying on your bed and binge watching Netflix or marathon pinning on Pinterest. When was the last time you stepped back and truly allowed yourself time for rejuvenation? You know, time to truly rest with no technological distractions.

Rest is crucial. Without taking time away from the busyness of our everyday lives, it’s incredibly easy to let your mental and physical health decline, or find yourself in burnout.  

Schedule Rest

People put rest on their “to do” list, but it needs to go on your calendar. Seriously, go ahead and add the word “rest” into your digital calendar right now. It’s one of the most gratifying things you’ll ever add to your calendar.

It may seem silly but when you schedule things, you are more likely to actually do them. That includes downtime and rest. Make time for yourself each week to do something that rejuvenates your soul and relaxes your mind: whether it’s yoga, meditation, a leisurely walk, or reading a good book. You could even go and get a full body massage. Bob Hope believed that getting weekly massages was one of the primary reasons he lived to be 100.

You Need a Bat Phone

In our modern digital age, it’s easy to get caught up in working 24/7 even when we aren’t physically in the office. With having the option to be constantly connected to work, it can be hard for us to tell ourselves to worry about it later. Take time to only do work in the office and save your brain from feeling like it’s on a never ending hamster wheel. You will be more productive when it is time to work and will have a chance to be more creative with extra time to think about other things except your upcoming projects.

Your Brain is a Muscle

When your body works hard you know it deserves a break. The same thing goes for your mind as well. Your brain is an incredible muscle that is constantly being used as we go throughout our days. It might even burn more calories when you’re working it out. When we take time to rest our brains,  the result is improved creativity and productivity, and lower stress.

Rest is important. This Labor Day, in honor of all your hard work, treat your self and unwind. Just make sure you eat some barbecue too.

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