Relish in the Rest

Rest. Positivity. Unapologetic.

Those were my three intentions, my three words to focus on at the start of the year.  

I think the beginning of the pandemic allowed some of us to slow down from the rat-race-hustle-bustle we’d grown so accustomed to and also take extra steps to try and ward off infection and looming virus. We’ve all learned, evolved, and pivoted so much throughout these past three years, but I can say with confidence that the value and power of REST was one thing that became incredibly apparent to me.

In the years during and post graduate school and then becoming a mom, rest always seemed to be on the back burner. When I did get it or made some time for it, I treated it like a reward or some overdue self-care. Or I would feel guilty taking rest, like I should be doing something else, something productive, something for my daughter, or something for my professional or personal development. A perpetual multi-tasker, it always felt a little wrong if I wasn’t doing something and/or progressing something forward. Perhaps that’s why I loathe folding clean laundry so much… because I can’t DO something else while folding.

Throughout the past few years, if something felt off (mentally or physically), I’d think, “I probably need to work out more,” or, “maybe I should cut X out of my diet for a bit,” and, “I really need to be consistent with my vitamins.” But it was always some needed rest that made everything feel better. Always. It became our cure-all at home.

And yet, I’d still have that pang of guilt. I’d be burnt out, tired, knowing I needed to rest and take a timeout, but I would think, “I wonder if there is a way to relax and recharge that would be more productive?” …

So here I am, the beginning of 2023, and I’ve set my intentions for the year—unapologetic rest and positivity. Rest is not self-care. It’s self-preservation. It’s necessary for survival. Rest is productive. And I wasn’t going to feel guilty about it.

And then in March I got thrown a little personal and professional curveball finding out I needed to have surgery to fix some nerves and address some long-standing carpal tunnel that was becoming incredibly painful. I’d have to go on disability for 6 weeks, the first half of which I wouldn’t be able to use my right hand, wrist, and arm. What was I supposed to do for 6 weeks? REST. Obviously. But when I was preparing to take my leave of absence at work and get everything lined up at home while I was recovering, my initial thoughts veered toward things I could DO or things I felt like I should do so I didn’t waste time to be productive. I quickly reframed, however, remembering what I’d learned the past few years and returning to my 2023 intentions. If I didn’t rest, I wouldn’t heal, and I could do more damage. The next 6 weeks, I decided, I would “relish in the rest.”

And rest I did. Oh, wow did I rest. It was wonderful and absolutely let me heal and recover in the best possible way. Was I slightly stressed about disability and insurance claims and dealing with the state having to constantly and consistently call? Sure (and more on that navigation later), but I unapologetically rested and recharged. My team at work put a list of movies together for me to tackle in my leave, but I didn’t even make a dent. I rested and read, something that has always relaxed me and made me happy.

Restful reading.

This week I returned to work and I’m so happy I allowed myself to relish in the rest and not feel guilty about not being productive or accomplishing a bunch of home projects. Rest absolutely helped me heal from my surgery, but also helped me give my brain a break and bring me a lot of clarity. And moving forward I’m making rest a priority for me. I do miss that initial slowdown of the pandemic and the rest it allowed, but knowing how it recharges, reframes, and heals us, I’m going to do better about intentionally slowing down and incorporating that rest regularly. Because I can’t rely on or wait for an unplanned medical situation to do something that is so necessary for my ongoing survival and thriving.

So, I challenge you—rest. If you don’t, then you’ll be forced to.

Relish in the rest.  

My daughter. Relishing in the rest.