One night, I collapsed into bed as I pulled the covers over my head. Though I had a restful night’s sleep, I woke up the next morning and looked at the clock by the side of my bed. I dreaded getting up for the day. I loved my job, but I was running myself ragged. I was not getting the rest that my body needed.
According to Dr. Saundra Dalton Smith, there are seven types of rest: physical, mental, emotional, sensory, creative, spiritual, and social. I was getting plenty of physical rest, but the rest of my body was suffering. Not creating proper boundaries when it came to work made me overwork myself to the point of exhaustion.
In my quiet time with the Lord, I felt him speak to my heart. Stress wreaked havoc on my body, not allowing me to get the rest I needed. From that day on, I learned how to get healthy rest.
Here are my five secrets:
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1. I Rest in All Seven Types
Although this is easier said than done, there are certain areas of rest I do better than others. For example, I always go to bed at the same time and have an established routine so I can get the best night’s sleep possible. In general, I set good boundaries when it comes to work and make sure I don't work too much so my mental health is restored. I pray and journal and ask God to help me deal with soul issues so my emotional health is intact.
However, because I write for a living, it is difficult to always get the creative rest I need. For example, I have realized that after a long day of writing articles or a book, I'm drained mentally. What helps me best rest and relax is to do an easy word puzzle, go shopping, or even color with adult coloring books. These help me keep my mental focus on something that doesn't take a lot of mental acuity to complete. It also helps me be creative with colors and create art in simple ways that don't require complex thinking. Although I am doing better with resting from social media once a week, I need to institute a full 24-hour rest period from all screens. That includes the Internet, phone, etc. Part of getting good, healthy rest is to know which rest types I’m lacking and concentrate my efforts on those.
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2. I Focus on Others
Although most types of rest focus on me, one of the ways I rest is when I know I am volunteering my time and using it wisely. When I know I have donated part of my time to helping others in some way, I know I'm doing a good thing not only for my rest but also to serve people in a way they deserve. For example, I volunteer at my church. As a church, we donate food to our local food pantry and help get backpacks to the local high school so kids in my community can have supplies for school. When I volunteer in some capacity, I'm able to focus on others, which helps me switch off my brain from all the things that I must do.
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3. I Established a Bedtime Routine
Part of getting good physical rest is for me to start my day at a certain time, but after 8:00 pm, all screens except for the television are shut off. I no longer answer emails, look at social media, etc. This helps me wind down from a long day. I brush my teeth, get into my pajamas, lie down in bed, and rest my body. This helps my body unwind from the day and helps me switch my focus to something entertaining rather than something that takes mental energy.
When I don't allow myself the time I need to wind down and, instead, use that extra time at night for work or answering emails, I go to bed and wake up more tired. This cuts down on my productivity for the following day. Although every day is different and distractions abound some days, by keeping a normal routine, I can start my day early. This way, I can end my day at a normal time and have adequate time to unwind.
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4. I Surrender Control
Although this is the hardest thing for me to do, part of getting good rest means I'm less anxious about my life. Even when my life is full of turmoil or stress, when I surrender control of certain areas to the Lord and allow him to work, I experience a peace that decreases my stress level. Excess stress in the body elevates cortisol, a hormone in the body. This hormone wreaks havoc with my metabolism and my overall physical health. Because all parts of our bodies are connected, when I'm stressed it's easy to ignore the fact that it takes its toll on my physical health. Yet, God commands us not to fear and asks us to give it all over to him. When we do so, we experience a peace that passes all understanding.
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5. I Have Hobbies
Spending downtime doing things I love helps me rest. For example, my husband and I like to visit antique shops and look at old toys. As a collector of 80s memorabilia, I love to collect 80s records (and have collected them since my childhood). I love spending an afternoon going to an antique school store and looking at all the 80s toys that bring back such good memories from my childhood. It’s especially rewarding for me to buy a toy that I had as a kid that I can put in my collector's cabinet.
When I look at those toys, it brings me back to a simpler time in my life. This was a time when I didn't experience a lot of stress and had few cares in the world. I also enjoy walking, reading, spending time with friends, and watching TV. These hobbies help break up an overly busy day and are something I can look forward to. When I have something to look forward to at the end of the week, I know my productivity increases.
As Christians, rest is essential when it comes to being productive not only in our personal lives but also for the Lord. We cannot expect God to use us if our bodies are stressed out, tired, and overworked. God has given us ways to rest so that we can be our best selves each day for him. By taking care of myself, utilizing a normal bedtime routine, and engaging in hobbies that I enjoy, I find even the most stressful weeks can carry with them special awards that offer great fulfillment.
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Originally published Thursday, 07 March 2024.
