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Rest: Why is it Important to Slow Down?

Written by: Atufa Khan





“Rest is not idle, is not wasteful. Sometimes rest is the most productive thing you can do for body and soul”


- Erica Layne


In times of perpetual pursuit to be ahead, we have overlooked something very fundamental to our health-“Rest”. With the constant pressure to fulfil our responsibilities and commitments, taking rest lightly has become very common. The popular attitude of undermining the value of rest and considering it synonymous with not being productive needs to be changed.


Doesn’t it happen with all of us that despite being tired and exhausted, we think that instead of having a break/rest, some other work can be finished.


All of us are aware of the fact that rest is essential, yet we might not be aware of the immense benefits that rest brings about with it. Let’s have a look at some research findings related to the importance of having “rest”.


Research findings establish that breaks can reduce the levels of stress experienced at work and can also benefit in maintaining productivity throughout the day (Coffeng et al., 2019; Geurts, Beckers & Tucker, 2014). A study by Korpela et al., (2016) found that having rest such as lunchtime or having a short break from work for some time can boost energy levels and reduce the amount of exhaustion.


Some useful tips to incorporate rest in your daily routine-


Try to stop when you feel exhausted-There are many instances where we end up pushing ourselves to work continuously without pausing in between. Working for long hours leads to burnout and poor performance. To sustain your concentration, try to stop whenever you feel exhausted, have a little break to do something rejuvenating. The operative word is “Stop”. Just do it. Stop for a bit. Pause! Take a deep breath, have some water. Pause!


Don’t underestimate the power of sleep-Try to have quality sleep to remain fresh for your upcoming day. You will notice that if you are rested well, you will feel more energetic and would be more productive!


Alternate ways of pausing-I read in a book as to how self care has also become a part of our to-do list and I cannot resonate with that observation more! When we think of taking breaks, it’s almost like telling ourselves, “I cannot do that as my schedule does not allow the same!” What should have been a “natural” instinct has become such a planned activity! However, the silver lining is that even if it starts off as a planned, deliberate activity, it’s alright! At least we are doing something in the direction of self-care! Pauses can be anything! You can do any activity that will make you feel relaxed e.g. colouring, dancing, it can be a brisk walk or a conversation with your loved one or simply sitting quietly with yourself!


Focus on how you feel during and after taking breaks-It’s a common observation that one feels guilty during or post breaks. It happens with many of us. However, it’s a good idea to reflect on where these thoughts and feelings are coming from, whose voices are these, are there any triggers for the same. Self-awareness can be beneficial in ensuring that you make the most appropriate self-care plan for yourself!


We have attuned ourselves in such a way that many of us end up feeling guilty about taking some time off from our work. But the bottom line remains the same that to have a healthy and productive life, we need to SLOW DOWN! Sounds ironical right?























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