Intermittent resting: Micro-moments of renewal for a vibrant life
We live in a time and place where productivity is highly regarded, and it has become a source of (misplaced) pride to rate our ability to power through fatigue in pursuit of productivity. We ignore the internal whispers that we need a break and sometimes choose to rest only when exhaustion strikes us down.
But what if you could take a more sustainable path to true vitality and achievement, not through constant doing, but from following the natural rhythmic cycles of engagement and renewal
Tuning in to your natural rhythms
For years through my rest methods with clients – from burnt-out executives to people juggling multiple personal responsibilities and sometimes illness – I’ve come to acknowledge and deeply appreciate the transformative power of what I call “intermittent resting.” This isn’t about indulging yourself. It’s simply about honouring the wisdom of your body’s natural ultradian rhythms.
While most of us are familiar with circadian rhythms that govern our sleep-wake cycles over 24 hours, fewer recognize that our daytime energy operates on 90-minute cycles, known as ultradian rhythms. After each period of focused activity, your body and brain naturally crave about 20 minutes of restoration.
These aren’t arbitrary numbers. They reflect the nervous system’s innate change between sympathetic (action-oriented) and parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) states. If we continuously override these signals – pushing through in the pursuit of being more productive – we create a physiological debt that compounds over time.
Many of us will have observed ultradian rhythms in our children or pets. Notice how they are go-go-go and then stop and rest and repeat throughout the day. This is the natural rhythm at work before we have adjusted to more constructed adult lives which try and ignore the natural wax and wane of energy. Instead, it has become typical to prop ourselves up with caffeine and sugar and unwind with a glass of wine. What is your go-to to mask your natural rhythms? By being mindful of this in your day you can start to introduce a change of attitude to regular pauses.
Micro-moments of renewal
Intermittent resting practices can be thought of as “micro-moments of renewal” – brief and intentional pauses that recalibrate your nervous system throughout the day. Unlike the “push until you crash” approach that leaves you depleted; these pauses help you maintain your energetic resilience.
During my time in corporate leadership roles, I observed that the most effective and energetic leaders weren’t those who worked the longest hours, but those who understood the power of rhythmic renewal. They recognized that sustainable performance isn’t about duration or just being present for the most hours, it’s about the clarity, and vibrant energy – the presence if you will – brought to tasks.
How you benefit from intermittent resting
When you honour these natural cycles, remarkable shifts occur:
- Nervous system regulation becomes your new normal. Rather than living in a stressful state of chronic activation, your body learns it can return to balance throughout the day.
- Creative insights emerge more readily. Have you noticed how solutions often arise when you step away from a problem? Restoration periods create the mental space for integration and innovation.
- Emotional resilience strengthens. Small recovery periods prevent the accumulation of stress hormones that cloud judgment and trigger reactivity.
- Physical tension releases before it becomes chronic pain. Think about your body’s tension and pain points and if they could be the result of ignoring your body’s need for regular and natural movement through the day. You might also notice improvement to your digestion and your body’s ability to heal.
- Energy reserves deepen. Because of deeply ingrained habits, it may sound counter-intuitive, but by resting more often, you will have more sustained energy, not less.
Making rest a guilt-free and positive part of every day
The beauty of intermittent resting lies in its flexibility. These aren’t hour-long commitments but moments of deliberate disengagement:
- A short breathing practice between meetings
- Taking a short walk away from technology after periods of screen focus
- Gentle stretching and movement that releases physical tension
- Simply gazing out the window, allowing your eyes and vision to soften
- Activity that relaxes the mind – 10 minutes of gardening, playing with your dog.
The key is acknowledging these natural cycles and giving yourself permission to take some time without guilt.
Beyond productivity
These practices aren’t merely tools for better performance. They’re invitations to a more embodied, present way of living. Each micro-moment of renewal reminds you that you are not just a human doing but a human being, you are existing and living not just producing.
I encourage you to reclaim your relationship with the natural rhythms of time and energy and as such to build your natural vitality and energy reserves.
Having felt the transformation in my own life and witnessed it with others who embrace these practices, I’m convinced that intermittent resting is an important prompt to live with real presence, and joy. Our nervous systems already know this. The question is: are you listening to your body and nervous system?
The next time you feel that mid-morning energy dip or afternoon focus wane, remember – rest is not for the weak, it’s for the wise.
