Why is it that even after an apparently good night’s sleep we can wake feeling drained and having to drag ourselves out of bed and on to the next day’s tasks?
In this blog I draw my starting thoughts from an interview between two respected, well-known UK psychologists, Julia Samuel and Dr Julie.
My brain really tuned into a segment where Dr Julie explains that when things get out of balance in her life, when she can’t say no to things, she tends to over work and under rest “and then everybody suffers the consequences of that, don’t they?”
You can see this short section of their conversation here on Instagram or the long-form interview on YouTube.
It is worth spending a couple of moments to appreciate the ripple effects of being fatigued.
How it feels when you are not at your rested ‘best’
I can’t speak for everyone, but I know the truth of this for myself. When I am not rested, or under-rested, then a less patient, less generous, less compassionate version of myself comes to the fore. I have less to give of myself and I know the people around me can feel that.
- How do you act when you are under-rested? How does it make other people feel?
- Is socialising, even with good friends, in the too-hard basket?
- Do you snap at those closest to you? Or withdraw because too much energy is needed to engage? Both can be hard for others to fathom and take it as a reflection on themselves.
- Do you experience lower mood and feel laughter and joy is lacking?
- Do you feel frazzled, stretched too thin or just can’t think straight? These are common phrases we use to describe the effects of a depleted nervous system that is chronically under-rested.
Rest, recovery and rediscovery
As a deep rest practitioner, I have developed my rest method over many years and believe that everyone can benefit from practising this. One core tenet of this method is accepting that rest is not just sleep. Rest and recovery during waking hours really matter.
Engaging with effective and intentional rest-based practices can help bring more focus into our lives, help us deal with stress better and, in turn, we are better equipped to interact with and support and be our best self with the people around us. We rediscover the absolute joy of connecting, with ourselves, our environment and our people.
What does intentional rest look like?
It doesn’t have to involve coming to a rest session, although that is a good way to understand how deeply replenishing rest can have a last benefit for our nervous system. There are numerous opportunities to fit deliberate rest into at least some of your days.
Sitting on the sofa or in a garden chair, reading or listening to a podcast can be deliberate form of rest. I’m saddened when I hear people say they only do this when they are sick or are so tired they are forced to do this. Being proactive about rest can help avoid the depletion or sickness setting in.
And remember these are just a few rest “activities” that are beneficial for recovery:
- Daydreaming
- Puzzling or colouring
- Being out in nature
- Breathwork
- Meditation
- Taking a bath
- Taking the dog for an extra walk (she will love you for it)
- Turning your phone off for 24 hours. If that’s not possible, then step away as much as you can from the over-stimulation of devices. Cognitive downtime is vital to recover.
Invest in rest
I invite you to think differently about rest, by considering the consequences of under-resting and reprioritising it. Recovery should not be something you do only when you have to. Or when you have “finished everything else”. Let’s be honest, we never finish everything else.
Research shows that rest can help us be more creative, find solutions to problems, and have the energy to rediscover being playful.
Rest is an investment in a happier healthier you. And yes, you do deserve that.
And so does everyone else around you.
