Do you ever feel like your life is ruled by the clock—constantly tackling an endless to-do list with little time to rest? And when you do finally take a break, the guilt of “not doing enough” creeps in.

I’ve felt this way at times, though I am getting better at carving out time for restorative rest.

Claudia Hammond, in her book The Art of Rest, explains that restorative rest isn’t about just taking long breaks or sleep, though long breaks and sleep are crucial components to kinder health. Overall, rest is multifaceted and relevant throughout our day. Sometimes, it’s as simple as doing two – to five minutes of movement or making a cup of tea every 1 hour and a half before diving into the next big task.

Claudia’s research highlights the variety of how people recharge their minds, bodies, and spirits e.g. through activities like reading, spending time in nature, or cooking, and the benefits.

That said, even restful activities can feel like chores if they become too routine or forced without space for change. For example, I love sweet potato brownies and I find them relaxing to make. However, if I had to make them every day, the experience would lose its “joy”.

Studies have shown and through personal experience; that “rest” that is kind, honorable, and consistent can be good for our brain, mind, and happiness. I’ll share more on this in an upcoming post.

A question for you and me:

How can we find better ways to rest throughout our day? 

One life, live it with kindness, courage, and intentionality.