I used to have so much trouble slowing down. Rest didn’t come easy to me. So in today’s post is about redefining rest so we can understand the layers that are making it hard to do so.

The only time I could relax was when I vacationed. Because it was a designated time and I was in a different environment! It was so easy to switch that on and off. Anyone else? 🙋‍♀️

The problem is that it’s not sustainable in the long run.
We have to be able to disconnect in the day to day.

And I realized what was stopping me where the fears around rest

Society sees rest as a reward, usually after you’ve overworked yourself then you “deserve to rest”. So there’s a lot of guilt even when we know we should be resting.

Some of the underlying messages in our subconscious are telling us to prioritize productivity over rest, measuring our worth to what we’ve accomplished. There’s also the fear of losing momentum, missing out, that things will break if we step back.

And those are fears masked through beliefs, conditioned into everything we do.

But they’re not true.

Here are some ways to redefine your perception of rest and slowing down.

So you can self-soothe and come back to your body.

Process your stress: Our bodies hold on to stress in many ways. A good way to release that is through physical activity that you enjoy. Let yourself sink into your body. Notice how you feel before and after

Grounding tools to help you connect your mind, body and spirit. Perhaps a place, an activity, sounds that brings you comfort and stillness.

Redefine rest, slowing down and productivity. Some prompts to journal or ponder about: How do you feel about rest? What are some fears around slowing down? Do you feel you have to be productive all the time? What is that costing you?

Set clear boundaries. Protect your energy overall. How can you limit outside stimulus? How can you transition from work to play? Anything to trigger your mind and body’s relaxation response.

Highlight the benefits of rest. Repeat them. Put them in a sticky note all over your house. Use mantras and affirmation if they help. Remind yourself so they can slowly become habits, a way of being with ease

Overall, the most important thing to keep in mind is having compassion for yourself. No matter where you’re at in your journey.

It takes time to recalibrate. Simply starting with awareness until you fully embody these traits.