Let’s face it. Living a fulfilling life takes a lot of effort and energy. I know I am in good company when it comes to having goals and ambitions. 

Life is exciting, and there is so much we want to achieve! We’re working full-time. We’re maintaining a social life. We’re pursuing hobbies and creative passions. 

But sometimes, it feels like we have no time left just to rest. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love my life, and I love these activities. But I get very tired sometimes. This got me pondering how we can stay energized and prioritize our well-being even when we have a lot going on.

I came up with this guide to incorporating rest into life’s busy seasons. Read on to see how you can apply these tips to your own busy schedule.

Photo by zuzanka galczynska on Unsplash

Change the Way You Think About Rest

The first step to feeling more rested is to change your mindset about rest. Rest is essential. It’s not something you earn. It’s not something you fit in when you can.

Rest is just as important as everything else on your to-do list. You need adequate rest to be your best self and achieve your goals.

Maintain a Positive Mindset

Your thoughts create your reality. I’m aware that this is annoying advice (trust me, I roll my eyes at myself). But the thing is, it works. 

It’s natural for your mind to go to a negative place when you feel super busy. You might want to complain about everything on your plate and how overwhelmed you are. But I’ve found that when I let myself ruminate on negative thoughts, I actually end up feeling worse. 

When I can catch my thoughts and refocus on something more positive, I feel a lot better. It sounds cheesy, but focusing on the positive aspects of a situation can make a huge difference in your experience. It takes time to build this awareness, but it is so worth it!

Photo by Jessica Mangano on Unsplash

Feel Your Feelings

Maintaining a positive mindset doesn’t mean denying your experience. Telling myself I “shouldn’t feel tired” has never helped. This actually makes me feel worse! You can still acknowledge how you are feeling, then take steps to improve your situation.

Utilize Pockets of Rest

It feels cliché to point out that we have limited time in a day. But you don’t need a lot of spare time or a big budget to get enough rest. 

“Intentionally making time for rest doesn’t always have to involve finding a big block of time. It can be small, simple lifestyle practices that you do consistently.”

You just need to be intentional with the time you have. Learn how to create pockets of rest within your daily routines.

Examples of daily pockets of rest:

🌟Spend Time in Nature

Even just a few minutes outside can help you feel more grounded. I like to use my rest breaks at work to get some fresh air and sunshine.

🌟Mindful breathing. 

You don’t need to meditate if that isn’t your thing. But spending a few moments paying attention to your breath and slowing down your breathing can be so calming. I find this really relaxing in stressful moments.

Take Breaks

Your brain needs breaks. It might feel counterintuitive, but taking breaks keeps you energized. 

Give Yourself Things to Look Forward to/Plan Fun Activities

Filling your free time with meaningful activities is a great way to feel more rested and restored. When you’re in a busy season, make sure to continue scheduling time to see your friends, pursue your hobbies, and practice self-care. If you have limited free time, you’ll need to be more selective when agreeing to plans. But incorporating some fun into your life will help you make it through.

Get the Right Kind of Rest

Feeling rested requires more than getting enough sleep. To feel truly rested, you need to give yourself the time and space to “recover from stress and stimulation.”

According to Dr. Sandra Dalton-Smith, there are 7 different types of rest that we need to feel fully restored.

If you always feel exhausted, you might be missing out on the type of rest you need.

Check out this post to learn about the 7 Types of Rest.

Stay Present

Many of us spend work time thinking about leisure and leisure time worrying about work. 

I know I am guilty of this. But enjoying the present moment makes you feel happier.

To the extent possible, focus on what is in front of you. I’ve discovered that, during the work day, when I get absorbed in work tasks, I feel much better than when I let my mind wander. The opposite is also true. When I turn off work mode and fully enjoy a relaxing activity, like reading, I feel more at peace.

Journal

Journaling is a form of mental rest. Your brain isn’t meant to store so much information. By writing things down, you can close some of those mental tabs.

Set your future self up for success

I know it can be hard to plan for your future self. But being strategic with your schedule can help you spend as much of your precious time resting as possible.

Meal Prep

When I know I’m going to be short on time and energy, I want to make sure I have meals ready to go. Meal prepping doesn’t mean spending all of Sunday in the kitchen cooking huge batches of food. For me, this can be as simple as making a pot of soup and air-frying vegetables for the week.

I hope this post helps you! I don’t love going through busy seasons, but they happen sometimes. And these practices can make those periods more bearable.

What are your favorite self-care habits for busy seasons?

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