Tough Times Call for Rest and Rejuvenation

Rest and rejuvenation are essential parts of a healthy and balanced life. Our lives may be abuzz with deadlines, juggling emotionally-draining times and beginning-of-the-year goals. It goes with saying: the pandemic has certainly added a layer of complexity into our lives. Some of us are juggling demanding careers and taking care of our families whilst others are coping with grief, mental health disorders or supporting loves ones.

It might sound paradoxical, but these busy times are actually when it’s most important to remember rest and rejuvenation. When we rest well, we make fewer mistakes in our day-to-day schedules. And when we relax, we give our body time to work on resetting our organs and our mind.

Sleep and rest benefits your body and its tangible effects are not to be underestimated. A good night of rest means we’re less likely to be agitated easily and our critical-thinking skills heighten. We recall details more accurately and our motor coordination sharpens. Toxins are flushed away that gather in our brain, our willpower is rebuilt and our sense of being at ease is renewed. When we take care of our health, we’re able to bring our highest selves to each day and each loved one we interact with.

But with tight schedules and never ending to-do lists, how can we build rest into our lives in a meaningful way? Research shows us that rest doesn’t have to take the form of a weekend vacation or a big commitment. Rest and rejuvenation can be broken down into bite-sized pieces.

Small moments of mindfulness can work wonders.

Micro-moments of rest are just as important. It could be about preparing a nutritious meal for lunch, using that extra five minutes to stretch before your next meeting or taking a deep breathe to transition between daily tasks. How about listening to an uplifting song to begin your day or taking time to catch-up on a hug and a smile with somebody you love? Small moments of mindfulness can work wonders.