A change is as good as a rest, or so they say. In some ways I agree, a change can be a great way to reset, to shake things up, and stop you getting stale. Keep you motivated. But I don’t agree it’s as good as a rest.
Resting gets some bad press, if you’re not being productive and working towards your goals in every spare minute then you’re not trying hard enough.
The morning routine narrative that you should be getting up early and smashing the day has been popularised in recent years. If you want to do great things it’s apparently essential to get up before sunrise, light a candle, meditate, journal, exercise, cleanse your chakras and sip on a green tea.
I know what I’d rather be doing at 5am and (spoiler alert) it’s getting another hour or so’s shut eye so I’m fresh for the day ahead! A great nights sleep that leaves you well rested is one of the best ways to start your day. There’s nothing wrong with a morning routine if it works for you, but my school of thought is to spend the first part of your day easing yourself into it and using this relatively quieter part of the day to do something that needs focus or brain power, whilst your reserves are high.
I like to think about rest in two ways. The first is built into your day to day life, it’s what you do to make sure you recharge during the day and across the week. It means having a super busy day one day and balancing that with a less busy day the following day. Stopping for a cuppa and putting your feet up when you can. Instead of thinking about what else you can do, taking some time just to be. It’s during these moments that you can get a bit more clarity on your thoughts. A bit of reflection time helps you focus on what’s important and the best next action, and you don’t get that from ploughing on through something. Let’s face it, the work is never done, and if you do get to inbox zero it’s guaranteed not to stay that way for long!
The other type of rest is an extended rest. It’s time away from work or responsibilities, in a chunk so that you get a clear break. It’s time away without having to think about those things too, so that it stays restful. Checking in with work and keeping an eye on emails or taking calls means you won’t be able to switch off completely. Delegate and use that wonderful out of office function to manage expectations and then forget about it. Taking time to relax, read, lounge around, spend time with friends and family, it all does us the world of good.
Don’t fall into the trap of filling your time off with all the jobs that need doing, or going on holiday and giving yourself an itinerary to see and do everything either. Holidays are opportunities for extended rest, so make the most of that and don’t feel you need to fill every minute with sightseeing. Make time to actively relax and put your feet up, and recharge your batteries so that when it’s time to go again, you’re ready to get back into the swing of things.
Check in with yourself now. Are you giving yourself enough time to rest? Have you planned in breaks and some fun things to help you relax? If not, take a bit of time to do that this week. Burnout is very unpleasant and much easier to prevent than to come back from, so make resting (and you) a priority.