The Art of Rest

We live in a world that glorifies hustle and speed. But what if your healing, your clarity, your creativity… all live in the pause?

It's time for us to make time and space for rest.

Why?

Because rest is resistant.

Rest is recharging and should be practiced daily.

Yes...DAILY!

Rest as Resistance

As much as I love and recite the infamous Nipsey Hussle's line "The marathon continues...." the idea of endless running or hustling, makes me cringe. It wasn't always like this because like many of us, I thought life was all about the hustle. I thought that I had to keep moving and if I wasn't moving, I was missing out on something or worse, someone was creating what I was supposed to be doing.

It took years and lots of reflection to realize that this wasn't true and that it was more than "okay" to pause, rest and just be, it's essential.

Think about how people react when you tell them that you're going to go home and "rest" on Friday night. The dropped jaws, the soft gasps and everyone's face reading "Rest? On a Friday?" It's downright blasphemy, right?

No, it's not. It's normal, perfectly healthy yet often viewed as radical.

To press pause on a busy day is downright crazy to anyone who believes in the hustle. To rest when the world is moving can also be considered "lazy."

The art of rest is not lazy. It's necessary for your mind, body and your creativity.

Listening to Your Body’s Rhythms

If we know when we're hungry, thirsty, angry and even in love, why is it so hard to understand when our bodies are asking for us for rest?

Be it a mental fog, anxious thoughts, nail biting or general overwhelm, we all have cues that trigger our brains to say "Hey, maybe you should take a break." Of course, if we have that go-go hustle mentality, we will dismiss these cues and push ourselves through the cues. Sometimes the results are good but could you imagine what the results would have been if you just stopped and actually rested?

The art of rest is about recognizing your rest cues; the physical and mental triggers that call you to pause and take some time away. The art of rest is also about understanding the type of rest you need.

Because rest is not always about sleep. Rest takes on many forms. Rest is: solitude, it's researching, it's traveling, it's social media detoxing, it's sitting with a good book and a cup of tea.

No matter how we do it, rest is vital for our mental and physical restoration daily.

Everyday Rest Practices

So if rest is vital, how can we obtain it every day? First, it's about understanding what rest looks like for you? Are you seeking long term rest, short term or micro moments of rest? Every day will be different but it's important that you incorporate an element of rest in your day.

Here are some ideas for micro moments of rest, short term rest and long term:

Closing Reflection Prompt: What does rest feel like in your body, and how can you honor that feeling this week?”

Consider this your sign to shut down a few minutes or maybe a few hours and find the right form of rest for you that recharges and restores you.

Because the art of rest is vital to our growth, progression and peace.

✨ Want more support in your rest journey? Join us on Patreon for weekly journaling prompts and gentle encouragement.