Addressing The Need For Rest

If you follow me on Instagram (@restorepeacecp), you may have noticed that the theme for this month’s posts is “rest”. I’ve shared about what a need for rest can look like and what the different types of rest are. I felt that it was important to share because, how can you get rest if you don’t know that you need it or what types of restful activities you need to engage in? But with those parts addressed, one is left with the question of how to communicate outwardly to others that you need rest. I hope to address that in this blog post.

If I were to think of this in steps, the first one would be accepting and believing that you not only need, but deserve this rest. We can often understand logically that we are tired and need to rest, but we often struggle with actually believing that we are deserving of that rest. In a world where value is measured by productivity, taking time to rest can feel like we are being lazy, not doing enough, or failing at life. When inundated with explicit and implicit messaging like this, I think it’s fair to say that rest is radical. Choosing to prioritize rest against all odds is an act of resistance, but it is a necessary one. We quite literally cannot function without rest. For example, research suggests that people who drive after being awake for 20 hours straight show a similar level of impairment as someone driving with a Blood Alcohol Level of 0.08% which is the legal limit in Canada. And though this research is specific to sleep, lack of rest in other areas present with impairments in various other areas of life. Therefore, not only are you deserving of rest, but you quite literally need it.

The next step would be acknowledging which types of rest you need and coming up with a plan for meeting these rest needs. It doesn't have to be something complicated and super detailed (though it can be if that helps you). It could be something more simple like deciding to visit an art gallery on the weekend for some creative rest and inspiration. Or it could be a bit more complex like realizing you need to take a leave from work. Whatever it is, it’s important that you clarify to yourself how you plan to get the rest you need. Also, consider who is impacted by these needs. Not so you can feel bad and avoid taking time for rest, but so you can move into the final step.

The final step? Communicate your needs to others. This will look different based on who you are sharing the needs with. Telling a friend that you can only talk on the phone for an hour, telling yourself that you’re only going to watch Netflix one day a week, and telling your boss that you need a week off are all very different experiences with different consequences. This is where we refer back to step 1 and 2. Sharing rest needs in some situations will be challenging and if we are not convinced of their necessity, then we are more likely to back down. Likewise, if we don’t actually acknowledge what we need clearly, things can quickly become confusing for all parties involved. Once we have clarity for ourselves, we can also map out a plan on how best to share our needs with others, including how much we are willing to compromise. Rarely do plans go exactly as outlined. The question here becomes how willing you are to flex and where you feel you need to stand your ground. However, that is a question you can only answer for yourself.

So then, I encourage you to take a moment. Listen to your body. How do you feel? What do you need? Who is impacted? What do you need from them? When and where do you express your needs? What are you willing to be flexible with? What are your non-negotiables? 

Don’t forget above all to remember what is important to you. What do you value and how do you protect that? Keep all these things in mind and I’d like to believe things will work out in the end.