There are only so many hours in the day... still, some of us are trying to squeeze 30 hours out of a 24-hour day. Math might not be my strong suit but those numbers don't add up.
It’s incredibly important to realize that rest time is just as important as work time. They are meant to work together, to keep our minds (and lives ) happy and healthy. This is why learning to hit the pause button (and the Stop one too) is an important skill to have.
My best tip for ensuring that you have more restful moments in your day is to schedule time for it. Adding some tranquility to your day will allow your brain the R&R restoration that it craves. Don't believe me? Read this excerpt from Scientific American.
What is the brain doing when we are at rest?
The critical thing to recognize is that when we are mind-wandering when our minds don't have any particular thing they have to focus on, our brains are pretty darn active. When you do things like go for a long walk, your subconscious mind keeps working on problems. The experience of having the mind slightly relaxed allows it to explore different combinations of ideas, to test out different solutions. And then once it has arrived at one that looks promising, that is what pops into your head as an Aha! moment.
As a creative individual, I understand how hard it can be to put the pencil down. But when we burn that proverbial candle at both ends, it ultimately leads to exhaustion, stress, and burnout. Planning time for rest is a simple way to avoid any negative extremes.
Try to think about rest differently. It shouldn't be something you do when you're finished with everything else. Rest is not 3-day old leftovers in the back of your fridge.
An easy way to begin is by scheduling a rest period for yourself a few days each week.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
Waiting in line for your coffee or tea... don't scroll through your phone. Instead, let your mind wander and take in the sights around you.
Sit in your backyard, close your eyes and just listen. Relax in the sunshine and be still with yourself.
Try out a yoga class. The benefits of a single class, especially if you spend hours in a chair or hunched at a desk, for your mind and body are worth it.
And if you're not into yoga, try a guided meditation. Meditation lowers stress levels and improves overall health as well as creativity and focus.
Take a walk. Even a short stroll can increase blood flow to the brain, which can boost creative thought.
Psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman argues that "mind wandering serves multiple adaptive functions, such as future planning, sorting out current concerns, cycling through different information streams, distributed learning (versus cramming), and creativity."
By incorporating restorative moments in your day, you will feel more focused when the time comes to roll up your sleeves with creative work.
To really get you in a relaxing and zen state of mind, I am sharing my Rest and Recharge Pandora Playlist. A lovely variety of instrumental songs (a few might sound familiar if you are a movie buff) that ends with an uplifting and energizing tune to get you moving. Click HERE to have it sent along to you!
