Rest
Photo by Abishek Subba on Unsplash
About 6 months ago, right before the semester ended and we were all heading into the holidays, I wrote a blog post about the importance of resting. As we have now fully transitioned into summer (here in the Northern hemisphere, at least, but this still applies in the South), I think it’s important to revisit the topic of rest and restoration. There’s a temptation at every change of season, no matter what that means for the weather, wherever you live, to say “Ah, now that that spring/summer/fall/winter is here, I can finally get some work done.” If you’re in a place like Toronto, at the first hint of sunlight and anything resembling a warm temperature (and around here, by ‘warm’, we mean anything above 10 degrees Celsius/50 Fahrenheit), everyone hits a patio for a cocktail and a chat with their friends. It’s a sudden, dramatic switch; it seems like we spend months doing nothing but trudging to and from work in the cold dark of winter only to find ourselves sprinting into a packed spring social calendar. It can actually be quite draining, even if this is what you’ve spent months hopelessly waiting for.
So, once again, I am here to remind you to take time to rest. It’s ok to take a moment away both from work AND from all the social gatherings. It’s ok to do whatever it is that you need to do in order truly rest and recharge. That may be sleeping in, that may be sitting on your front porch by yourself reading a book, or that may a walk along the beach at sunset with no fixed schedule.
This also bears repeating: however you choose to rest and recharge, this is also your reminder to not feel guilty about it. If you start to question whether you can afford to take time away from work, tell yourself that resting will make actually make you better at your job. Because it will. We’ve all heard the phrase ‘You can’t pour from an empty cup’, and we’ve all experienced how much smoother the work goes after we’ve had a good night’s sleep. Rest is an investment in yourself and your career. It is also an investment in your relationships with your loved ones, even if that means that you don’t see them while you are resting. Resting can help you recharge and connect back with yourself, thereby allowing you to be fully present and to offer the best version of you to your favourite people.
At this transition between seasons (both professionally and meteorologically), take time to proactively and intentionally rest. Trust that the rest you take will propel you into the rest of the season with renewed energy and focus. Ask yourself, ‘what kind of rest do I need?’ And then block time off in your calendar for it. If you need support, you can book a call here.
Next week: Just erase the board
