4 Quick Tips for Getting More Rest
How often do you rest?
Here's the truth: I'm terrible at resting lately. I don't sleep or nap "just because." My relaxation is always conditional. Lately, I rest for more energy to get up and complete more tasks. So my word of the month for May 2021 is Rest because my goal is to get more (and better) rest this month and onward! Keep reading to learn four tips for getting more rest I'll use going forward.
What is Rest?
Merriam-Webster defines this word of the month as "a bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities." One of my favorite explanations is the secondary definition: "freedom from activity or labor." Isn't rest different from sleep? I think so! You can rest by sleeping, but you can also relax while being awake.
I like to think of rest as doing nothing or disconnecting from reality. You don't have to close your eyes. You don't have to sleep. But rest is all about disengaging and being free from activities.
Whether you're a parent or an inspiring entrepreneur, we could also use more moments of rest during the day, including me.
4 Tips for Getting More Rest
The missing link is *drum roll, please*
DISCIPLINE.
- Start your evening routine at the right time. Although rest is different from sleep, one way I want to relax more is through sleep. I know what I need to do. Instead of binging The Circle on Netflix or watching TikTok videos at night, I need to start my evening routine earlier so that I can go to bed earlier. Of course, this goal is easier said than done. (If you read this post from last month, you know that we explored showing grace vs. discipline. This goal is a great example of when to practice discipline.)
- Meditate throughout the day. The key is to disengage. I can't think of a better way to disconnect from the world than through meditating. I love meditating, but I struggle with staying focus. So my goal is to start meditating 5 minutes every day and increase each week until I get to 30 minutes. On the days you or I can't meditate, deep breathing is a great alternative.
- Take more naps. This goal is self-explanatory. But as we return to working in the office, naps are far and few in-between! Don't forget about the power of a good weekend nap. (I love my Sunday naps). My goal is to aim for a 20-minute nap every Monday through Friday.
- Put down the phone. Rest is freedom from activity, remember? We're not only escaping labor. We need time away from activities as well. Lately, I'm craving time away from the phone to relax instead of engaging and consuming content 24/7. I'm scheduling time away from my phone in the morning and evening before bed to disconnect and recenter!
Ultimately, this month's goal is to get more rest, even if it's a few moments during the day, to disengage and relax. While all these goals and intentions are great, the key to achieving them is to be harder on myself and to stay consistent.
What's your goal for May?