Are You Getting Enough Rest?

Issue #11

For many of us, especially those with the entrepreneurial spirit, staying busy and in the “go, go, go!” mindset can become a badge of honor we wear with pride. But of all of the lessons I’ve learned over the past few years, this one may take the cake.

Don’t Forget To Rest

A few weeks ago I talked about energy and how burnout will creep up on you slowly if you’re not paying attention. And it caught up with me last weekend in the form of a migraine. 😫

Today I want to focus on prioritizing rest, which is more than just getting a good night’s sleep. Although that should be at the top of everyone’s to do list.

With my daughter back at college, I’ve made a point to get to bed earlier these days, and while it feels strange to bump my bedtime up by a good 45 minutes (I’m a night owl), it’s what my body needs at this age and stage of my life. And I’m choosing to honor it.

I’ve also re-instituted something that I like to call “forced rest.” After dinner and an evening stroll with the dog, we both plop ourselves on the couch and she sleeps while I find something relaxing to watch for an hour. When I first started doing this again, my brain kept saying “you could be getting more work done right now!!” But I know that both my brain and body need a break at the end of the day and just because I can doesn’t mean I should keep working.

On the weekends, if my daughter is home, we make a point to venture out to explore somewhere new and take our time once there. I’ve also been known to take myself to the movies to force myself to sit still for two hours without worrying about being productive. And I sleep in for as long as the dog will let me on Sunday morning. 😂 Working through the weekend and / or rushing through the weekend won’t give you the recharge you need to hit the ground running on Monday morning.

So here’s today’s question…

Are you getting enough rest?

And are you paying attention to the first signs of mini burnout?

My crash over the weekend was no fun, and led to me missing out on actually enjoying some much needed downtime. But because I took too long to get the rest I needed, I was forced to rest when my body and brain finally said “enough.”

Here’s to prioritizing rest in all its forms – mind, body and soul – so you can be your best when it is time to get back to work.

With you on the journey…

P.S. – Reading fiction for 15-20 minutes before bed is also a great way to slow down your brain and get ready for a good night’s sleep. If you’re in need of a book recommendation, feel free to reach out and I’ll share a few recent favorites with you. 📚