Sometimes a rest is the best thing we can do.

(or, the benefits of laziness)

Several years ago, a client reached out to me. She had just injured her shoulder; it was painful and stiff, and she was anxious to do some rehab and get back to normal. It was a good opportunity to remind her of the principle:

Sometimes rest is the most appropriate action.

Acute inflammation is an immune system response. Swelling happens when your body increases blood and tissue fluids, bringing the proteins needed for healing, and facilitating waste removal through the lymphatic system.

Being stiff and in pain after an injury is 100% normal. It's not enjoyable, but it is a necessary part of healing.*

I gave my client the information I've just given you, and invited her to rest for a few days, start to experiment with gentle movements that don't increase pain, and to get in touch if things weren't returning to normal on their own. I didn't hear from her again about it.

Whether our bodies are in pain or our nervous systems are stressed and overwhelmed, sometimes a rest is the most powerful action we can take. For my client, a rest gave her immune system the time and space to do its job.

If your default is to do more, resting can also be the difficult thing to (not) do.

Of course we want to do something when we're in pain, something difficult happens, or there's something in our lives we'd like to change. I'm certainly not advocating sitting on the couch and eating chocolates and waiting for things to get better on their own. (in fact, I've tried that, and I can tell you it doesn't work.)

The act of resting is the Pause that enables you to change the lens through which you're experiencing a situation. It's the time and space to regulate your nervous system, so you can see and think clearly.

Sometimes a rest is sitting and connecting with my breath.
Sometimes a rest is walking away from the computer and putting my feet on the earth, or dancing in the kitchen.
Sometimes a rest is feeling pain, anger, sadness, etc. and holding myself tenderly without pushing away the feeling.

A rest can give you the time and space to make a choice about what's next that is aligned with your values and your goals, that comes from a clear-headed space instead of one of anxiety and overwhelm.

What are some ways that you can rest when your mind, body or spirit are feeling overwhelmed?

*Please note, there is a difference between acute and chronic inflammation. Acute inflammation is that immediate immune system response that facilitates healing. Chronic inflammation is long-term, ongoing and has negative long-term effects. Read more here.

Prioritizing rest and self-care can feel impossible when you're used to putting everyone else first. You know that you can't pour from an empty cup. And yet.

Is now the right time for you to learn how to care for yourself? Dip your toe in the water by reaching out for a conversation about what that might look like. No obligation - just getting curious about possibilities...