What comes to your mind when you hear the words “rest” and “relaxation?”

It seems like many of us have a complicated relationship with the concepts of rest and relaxation. If you are anything like me, relaxing can sometimes feel indulgent. But I am working to establish a more healthy and balanced relationship with the concept of rest.

A quick backstory – I’ve been in a bit of a stressed state lately. I explained in this blog post, that some of the core pillars of my life (work, social life, and alone time) feel out of balance. It’s been making me tired, and I’ve been seeking a solution. I’ve pinpointed the issue as being poor time management and scheduling preventing me from having enough time to relax and recharge. So my current focus is learning how to schedule my time so I am able to complete necessary tasks and also designate allocated rest time. And I’m sharing this story so that others that relate to this experience can also learn how to prioritize rest. Even though it might sound counterintuitive, rest is a pivotal component of success and productivity. I definitely do not do my best work when I’m exhausted. I am much more efficient and clear-headed when I have a sense of balance in my life. I know some people believe they can hustle and grind 24/7, but that is really not realistic. 

Based on what I hear from people in my life, as well as online, my struggles around my relationship with rest are not unusual. Unfortunately, the prevalence of hustle culture and toxic productivity feeds us impressionable folk the message that we need to constantly be working and striving to accomplish more. While I don’t align with the hustle-culture mentality, I do feel (as mentioned above), that I have some negative thoughts about allowing myself to rest that I want to work on. And I want to share this article to offer a more positive and beneficial alternative to the nonstop hustle and grind mentality.

A Guide To Prioritizing Rest (How To Feel Your Best And Avoid Burnout)

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-sitting-on-chair-while-leaning-on-laptop-3791136/

Prioritize sleep

I would be remiss if I didn’t make prioritizing sleep number one on this list. I know, I know, it is so annoying to hear people lecture about how important sleep is. Or maybe that is just my inner child speaking up whenever I’m confronted with information about sleep. But it is true. When I don’t get enough sleep, I feel bad. It’s that simple. Not getting enough sleep can make you feel unmotivated and cranky, which is definitely not conducive to your productivity. But think about how good you feel when you are fully rested. Imagine the incredible things you could accomplish if that was your baseline. Make it a priority to get 7-8 hours (minimum) every night.

Scheduling

I explained that I’ve identified poor scheduling and time management skills to be the root of my issue here. So addressing that is one of my main focuses at the moment. I mentioned in this blog post that I am going to start waking up earlier, so I can start and end work earlier, meaning that I can also start unwinding earlier. Whether this is the solution I hope it will be, it is too soon to tell. But I’ve been attracted to this lifestyle for a while, and I now have the opportunity to experiment with it. I’m in a phase where I want to try new habits, tools, and ways of living to see if I discover something that works well for me. I hope to inspire you to experiment with different potential solutions to find habits and routines that help you feel your best.

Along with changing my sleep/work/unwind schedule, I’m also trying different methods for scheduling my days. I’ve been practicing time blocking for a little while now, using Google Calendar. But I’m working to change the way I use this tool by being more selective with what I put on my calendar, so I’m not overwhelmed with notifications and unfinished tasks. I realized that I was making myself stressed about tasks that were really optional, so I’m working on changing that. Overall, I do like the time-blocking method, and I’m incorporating it as a tool to keep me on track to finish what I need to finish for the day, so I can have a designated time to turn off work mode. I’m sharing these tools, so you can benefit from them as well.

Photo by Taryn Elliott: https://www.pexels.com/photo/lighted-candle-on-white-book-beside-black-glass-bottle-4099355/

Schedule rest

Scheduling rest is a way to make sure you give yourself this needed time to take a break and recharge. I like to make a rough plan for each day the night before. When I make this schedule, I’m accounting time for self-care activities, like taking a lunchtime walk and practicing yoga. These are the activities that keep me grounded and balanced. I’m also working on continuing to improve my time management, so I can schedule more self-care activities, like reading, journaling, and crafting into my evening routine. If this sounds like a lot, it’s because I’m still in the brainstorming stage. I’m working to find the balance of making time for these activities, without feeling overwhelmed. If you find it difficult to set aside time for self-care, I recommend you try making it part of your daily/weekly schedule. Schedule your relaxation windows ahead of time, to make sure that you get needed time to relax. Remember that relaxing is necessary and allows you to function your best. Remind yourself of that the next time you notice you aren’t making self-care a priority.

Reframe the way you view rest

This is an extremely important piece if you feel guilty for resting. Train your brain to view rest as an essential component of your well-being. Because it is. 

Rest is necessary, whether or not we like to admit it. Without rest, you run the risk of burning yourself out, which is going to negatively impact your mental health as well as your performance. If you are someone who values productivity, which, if you are reading this blog, I am guessing you are, you will benefit from learning the positive benefits that come from establishing a more balanced mindset.

Prioritize your to-do list

Learning how to prioritize is crucial when it comes to successful time management. I realized that I had a habit of committing to too many things because I wanted to get them all done. But in reality, I would end up not getting everything done, not doing my best work, or getting everything done, but burning myself out.

Address the mindsets/beliefs that are keeping you stuck

Do you feel guilty about missing social events? Or fear you will get left out? This is something I noticed I was struggling with. I was afraid to miss out on activities because part of me was worried that I would start to get left out in the future. If you relate to the fear of missing out (formally known as FOMO), here are some tips that I am using to get out of that mentality.

Take note of what you are actually “missing” 

If you realize you are skipping out on important life events, such as milestone moments for your loved ones, because you feel too drained and/or preoccupied with other things, you might need to reassess your priorities. But, if you are occasionally skipping some social events to give yourself a chance to recharge, that is totally fine. If anything, taking time to rest will allow you to rejoin the group with a clear mind and more energy, which will allow you to be fully present and be more enjoyable to be around.

And take note of what others around you are doing.

Many of us get too caught up in overanalyzing and judging what we are doing. We also tend to hold different standards for ourselves than the standards we hold for others. Make it a point to zoom out and look at the big picture. Are there other people you know who like to take time to themselves to recharge? Would you get mad at a friend for needing time to rest? I am so fortunate to have an incredible group of friends that set a positive example of what it looks like to create balance and set healthy boundaries when it comes to taking care of yourself and giving yourself time to rest.

Strive for balance

Balance is a topic that I think about a lot. Just like you can’t work all the time, you also can’t rest all the time. Finding that sweet spot between the two is when you will start to notice improvements in your overall well-being.

Photo by The Lazy Artist Gallery: https://www.pexels.com/photo/top-view-photo-of-woman-lying-on-mattress-1637819/

Find activities that energize you and bring you joy

One way to work towards balance is to identify activities that bring you joy. This can be anything from spending time with loved ones – to pursuing hobbies – to exploring. Schedule time for these activities. If you think you “don’t have time” to do the things that make you happy, make an effort to find the time. I know it is easier said than done, but doing the activities that bring you joy is going to energize you and help you to keep going in the other areas of your life. 

Consider yourself a work in progress

Show up every day and keep trying.

I start to get frustrated when I’ve been working on something for a long time with little to no progress. I am a solution-oriented person, and I get down on myself when I feel like I can’t solve my problems. But, I was given the very wise advice to consider myself a work in progress, which is a helpful mindset shift for anyone who also struggles with this inner critic mentality. Acknowledging that you are a work in progress allows you to take some of the pressure off of yourself. As long as you show up for yourself and continue to learn how you function best and implement your findings to improve, you are succeeding.

Figure out what works and what doesn’t

If you find yourself coming up against the same problem without progressing toward a solution, start trying different things to see what helps. As mentioned above, consider yourself a work in progress. Experiment with different strategies and systems. This is where I also like to collaborate with people in my life, as well as do online research to find potential strategies that are working for other people.

Do more of what works

Once you find systems that work for you, keep implementing them into your life. Keep going, even if your progress feels slow. Remember that it can take time to adjust to new habits.

Don’t listen to external pressure

As someone who values “positive and realistic productivity and wellness,” I do my best to steer clear of extreme and/or unrealistic advice. At the end of the day, you know yourself better than anyone else. Don’t beat yourself up if someone else’s advice doesn’t work for you. People in our lives typically mean well when they share advice. But everyone is different. There is a difference between learning from other people and adapting those skills to work for you versus pressuring yourself to do exactly what someone else is doing and beating yourself up if it doesn’t work.

Understand and accept that not every day is going to go how you want it to

Accepting that plans don’t always work out the way you want is hard, but very important. This past week, I faced some hard moments while working to implement the changes I’m discussing here. I experienced frustration over certain tasks taking longer than expected and making me feel stressed and overwhelmed. I’m sharing this to give you a realistic perspective and to prepare you with strategies for managing your emotions if you feel overwhelmed by your to-do list.

Photo by Monstera: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-reading-book-in-bathtub-during-spa-procedures-6621227/

Find ways to work through negative emotions

Not working through negative emotions puts you in a cycle of negative thoughts, poor performance, and more negative emotions. I have started journaling as a way to process those emotions and move on with a more positive mindset. Physical activity is also an effective way to clear your mind. A clear mind is going to help you succeed at whatever you are trying to accomplish. Once you figure out the tools that help you manage negative thoughts, you can get yourself out of that spiral and start moving on toward achieving your goals.

Emotional regulation

“Emotional regulation” is the process of responding to an emotion in a way that helps you cope and manage uncomfortable feelings. This is where it will benefit you to practice coping skills to help you manage your emotions and keep yourself in a more positive headspace.

Coping Skill Ideas

Physical Activity

Crafts

Reading

Spending time outside

Spending time with other people

Getting into a new environment

Journaling

Meditation

Practice self-compassion

Self-compassion is a more effective tool for making positive lifestyle changes than self-deprecation. When you are kind to yourself, it boosts your self-confidence, which gives you a better groundwork for achieving your goals than self-deprecation, which diminishes your self-confidence and puts you in a negative cycle.

I hope this post resonates with you. I truly think making an effort to prioritize rest will transform your overall well-being by allowing you to have more opportunities to get re-energized. I would love to hear comments if you try any of these tips, or if you have your own thoughts on this topic. Feel free to reach out to me on Instagram, if you want to brainstorm habit shifts for your life.