“Your commitment to your wellness is part of the revolution.” — Danielle LaPorte
Is rest and renewal part of your commitment to your wellness? Do you understand rest as an important part of your self-nurturing practice? Are you able to give yourself permission to take a break even when there is so much to get done? If you answered no to any of these questions, you are not alone. So many women find it difficult to prioritize their own needs, especially when it comes to rest and renewal.
If you are in the habit of caring for everyone in your life except yourself, giving yourself permission to rest and renew might feel like a revolutionary act. You may struggle feeling guilty or selfish when you take time for yourself and may even buy into the belief that it is lazy to rest. You may think you are too busy to take a break, especially during busy times like the holidays.
If you wear busyness like a badge of honor, resting and relaxing may be the last thing on your “to do” list or not there at all. You may prioritize almost everything over your own wellbeing until you are no longer able to.
When we get hooked into a cycle of self-neglect, over giving without refilling our inner well, we will eventually get sick. In that case, our bodies will force us to rest. Unfortunately, when we get sick, we are unable to enjoy the rest and relaxation.
But it does not have to be that way.
We could choose instead to live by Adam Grant’s wise words, “Resting is not a waste of time. It is an investment in well-being.”
How could you invest in your own well-being?
What I love about the art of self-nurturing is intentionally investing in our wellbeing and choosing to refill our inner well before we are thirsty. There are so many ways to nurture ourselves. When we recognize that rest and renewal are important aspects of our wellbeing, we are more likely to include them in our self-nurturing practice and prioritize them in our schedules.
If giving yourself permission to nurture yourself in this way is challenging, find creative ways to invite yourself into the practice of rest and renewal. To further support you, reflect on Louise Vallace’s perspective of rest as you transform your mindset, “Rest is not laziness. It is a crucial part of the cycle of life, a period of renewal that prepares us for what’s ahead.”
Here are five nurturing ways to give yourself permission to rest and renew:
Mindful Resting:
Bring your awareness to the present moment with curiosity, compassion, and non-judgement. Mindfully spend time observing the world around you without needing anything to be different. Use your senses to engage with the present moment, noticing what you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. Allow yourself to rest in the present moment, reconnect with yourself, and feel the sense of renewal that blossoms from taking a few minutes of mindful resting.
Take a Nap:
Give yourself permission to take a short nap when you are tired. Find a comfy place to rest, set a timer for 10 minutes, close your eyes, and let yourself nap. You do not need to fall asleep for this practice to be beneficial, only to allow your mind, body, and spirit to rest for a few minutes. Taking a short nap can renew your energy, provide a needed break, settle your nervous system, and demonstrate kindness and compassion to yourself.
Pause Your “To Do” List:
When you give yourself permission to pause your “to do” list, you make more space in your life for rest and renewal. Pausing your “to do” list will allow you time to reflect on how much you do, acknowledge yourself for your efforts, and remind you that you are so much more than the items you check off your list. Your value and worth are not determined by what you accomplish, and pausing your “to do” list will refocus you on what is important in your life and support your practice of rest and renewal.
Connect With Nature:
Spending time in nature is a wonderful way to rest and renew. Give yourself permission to find a beautiful place to connect with nature, in your yard, garden, nearby park, hiking trail, beach, or nature preserve. There are so many ways to connect with the awe and wonder of nature. You can garden, hike, hug a tree, watch the birds, sit in the warm sun, watch a sunrise or sunset, or simply explore. Our bodies, minds, and spirits are renewed just by being in the beauty of nature and can help us feel connected to something bigger than ourselves. Giving yourself permission to engage regularly in this practice will inspire you to continue to connect with nature to rest and renew.
Create a Mini Retreat:
Spend a few hours doing nurturing activities you love by creating a mini retreat. Make a list of self-nurturing activities that rejuvenate you like meditation, yoga, stretching, journaling, gratitude practice, sitting in the sun, taking a bath, reading, taking a nap, singing, playing a game or instrument, or simply being. Create your own mini retreat by choosing multiple activities, designating some time, and giving yourself the gift of your own kind attention. You can plan a mini retreat once a month to intentionally set aside time to rest and renew.
Choosing to give yourself permission to rest and renew is a revolutionary act of love and compassion for yourself. Deepen the impact by tuning into how you feel after resting and notice the difference a short period of renewal can make in how you feel about your life. Cultivating more peace and joy through these self-nurturing practices will allow you to show up with more love, intention, and compassion in your life and all your relationships will benefit, especially your relationship with yourself. Being intentional about resting will allow you to refill your inner well and invest in your well-being in a healing and transformative way.
“You rest now. Rest for longer than you are used to resting. Make a stillness around you,
a field of peace. Your best work, the best time of your life will grow out of this peace.” Peter Heller
May you be inspired to give yourself permission to rest and renew as you nurture peace, compassion and hope in the world from the inside out.
Sending you so much peace, love and gratitude, Kelley
