Permission To Rest

The importance of rest cannot be overstated! 

Our attention is an energy / a resource - and resources are finite. 

Real breaks are time-outs that are officially ours. Work requires often more than we like to really see and realize it requires to focus and pull ourselves together, breaks and free time allow the mind to wander, the body to recover. It is also important to be able to mentally distance yourself from work and really switch off.


There are consequences of resting too less:

  • Burnout
  • Bitterness/resentment
  • Physical and mental health issues
  • A lack of interest and focus in things we usually find interesting and meaningful
  • Feeling like you are in a constant state of overwhelm and operating from your reserves (not abundance)

We need to give ourselves permission to rest. AND ... resting is not a waste of time!
"We live in a society that HIGHLY values productivity and accomplishment."

In a world that relies on our willingness to exhaust ourselves to the point we can't function, resting is a beautiful act of rebellion, and a much-needed act of self-care.


The DRAMMA Model: A model to de-stress

The model stands for detachment, relaxation, autonomy, mastery, meaning, and affiliation.

  • Detachment-Recovery - It is important to detach from work and focus on something different completely. Everyone should find their own way, perhaps getting outside in nature, taking up a hobby, spending time with friends, or simply laying on the grass listening to your favorite music.  
  • Autonomy - This part involves doing your own thing and actually enjoying it. It’s not or less about doing the things we feel obligated to do and more about being in charge of deciding on the things we enjoy doing. And to put this into practice, block and save some time only dedicated to you. This will put you in charge of filling this time with something you choose to do for yourself. 
  • Mastery - This part is about using your skills to overcome a certain challenge. To integrate this into your time off, consider trying something new or learning a new skill perhaps cooking or drawing / painting. 
  • Meaning - To really de-stress and recover from the stressors of life and work, meaning is also extremely important. On your next day off, try to do something that really has a lot of meaning to you. This is thought to help support self-growth and also reduce feelings of negative emotions. 
  • Affiliation - Lastly, this part is all about connecting with others. Consider spending your time off with friends and family. Connection may give you that recharge you need. 

Give Yourself Permission to Rest and as well extra sleep

Many of us could benefit from extra sleep, but aside from sleeping in or going to be earlier on the days where you can, give yourself permission to just lounge around and rest. Getting more sleep and resting isn’t lazy ... in fact, there’s lots going on inside the body during sleep, like memory consolidation and supporting daytime brain function - I often wake up with creative ideas - why shouldn't you? But, even if you aren’t able to get a nap in on your days off, just taking some time to relax gives your body the time to recharge, refuel, and your mind a break from the constant go, go, go. 

And give yourself the permission to rest.



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