Thoughts on Rest
One thing I think about a lot lately is the concept of our bodies taking pause when they need to. This is a process that is done automatically and does not always need our approval. One of the things that I’ve felt shame for lately is the amount of time I’ve spent in front of a screen, as screen time is a common form of rest in my household.
If you too have felt shame for being in a season of rest, I encourage you to reframe your process of thinking about the concept of rest. As rest may be exactly what your body is needing in this season.
If you’ve been able to tune into your body and acknowledge the needed season of rest, here are a few things that I’ve found that have been helpful in my own journey.
Apps for Good
The first is that of the Calm app. I tend to open this app when I feel overwhelmed and need a moment to breathe. The soundscapes and guided meditation are really helpful when I need to get out of my own head and focus on something externally, to bring peace to my body and my mind.
The second thing that has been helpful to me during this time is the YouVersion Bible app. The ministry behind this free app does a great job of keeping Bible studies, up-to-date and publishing new content daily. I thoroughly enjoy the daily refresh on the homepage of the app for a quick, five minute session in God‘s word to get my mind back to a healthy place of rest.
Movement + Creation
The third thing that has helped me is simply incorporating movement or an activity of creation of some sort.
It’s really hard to be anxious or overwhelmed when we are focused on creativity.
Importance of Routine
The last thing that’s really helped me is taking time for an intentional evening routine. I personally enjoy making a cup of chamomile tea with local honey an hour or two before bed. I also believe in the benefits of dimming the lights around the house in the evenings if possible. If you are someone who uses overhead lights, switching to lamps only or changing the color of Hue bulbs around the house to a soft amber is beneficial to promote evening rest and a healthy sleep pattern.
I hope you’re able to find the rest that your body needs in this season.
