How do you rest?
Rest is something we seem to have been taught (as women especially) to fear or feel guilty about.
We’re always “on” – I know that personally, I constantly have a to do list running through my brain, and it’s taking some real practice to learn how to silence that inner voice and find ways to truly rest.
I’ve done this by being strict about phone time, making lists whenever I need to brain dump, and prioritising my own need to rest over almost everything else in my life.
Things I love to do which help me feel rested and nourished are:
✨ Water – it’s my number 1 for unwinding. A beach or river walk, a swim, a jacuzzi, a bath. I feel my inner tension unwind and dissolve almost immediately when I am in or on water.
✨ Fire – sitting in front of my open fire, gathering outside around the chimnea, women’s circles around the campfire. So mesmerising, nourishing, and connecting! Camping and campfires give me some precious memories of an otherwise pretty sh*tty summer.
✨ Therapy – it’s a form of rest for me to unload my thoughts and feelings, and my therapist truly works hard for her money… she is such a gem.
✨ Walking – I’ve only relatively recently (in the past few years – maybe a middle age thing 😬) discovered the power of walking for my body and mind. I listen to podcasts and get inspired, or sometimes just rest in the rhythm of my walk and the sounds of nature – I am lucky enough to have a lot of that on my doorstep.
✨ Reading – I’ve finally fallen back in love with reading, and I realised where I was going wrong… I was trying to read too many business books and non-fiction, when actually what I love (and need in this phase of my life) is to get lost in a great story. Taylor Jenkins Reid is my current obsession… I love that she’s created an entire world and all the stories are interlinked… I am just trying to eek them out so I don’t finish them all too quickly. Book recommendations ALWAYS welcomed – message me if you have any must reads.
✨ Sleep – I am a nap fan. Always have been. And at the moment, I have the complete luxury of mostly just being able to stop, and listen to my body when I need extra sleep. And boy, is it doing me good.
I’ve made more effort than ever before to rest and recharge – in fact I now base work around rest rather than rest around work.
How do you rest?
If you don’t take much time to rest, I invite you to reflect on what the activities are that make you feel rested, and do absolutely everything in your power to schedule in some form of rest this week and beyond.
And if you’re keen to book something in for yourself, get on the waiting list for the next Shine retreat here: https://shineontribe.ck.page/c1326c9531 or book the November one here: https://www.shineontribe.co.uk/retreats/
