Finding the Value of Rest

If I were to ask you right now how relaxed do you feel, I reckon I could guess your answer.

How?

Because we live in an over stimulated society that doesn't easily allow for us to relax.

Our eyes are constantly being drawn to captivating marketing campaigns, heart wrenching news stories, screens and devices. Our ears are constantly being exposed to the sound of traffic, people, music, podcasts and other background noises. On top of that there are the smells, the textures, the tastes, thoughts and emotions providing trillions of bits of data to the brain every second.

So even if you're not consciously feeling stressed by work, family, relationships, the climate etc at this moment, your nervous system is regularly being triggered just through the environment you're in.

For many people, there is a certain level of guilt and self indulgence that surrounds practices of self care, relaxation, down-regulating or whatever you wish to call it. So even though someone is carving out the time to meditate, or practice Yin Yoga, the effects are less potent because of their intention behind it and the stories that they tell themselves. I remember a time where my self care practices became a tick box exercise. Sure, I had spent time in meditation, I had moved my body in a gentle way, I had coloured mindfully... but I wasn't feeling any less stressed or anxious. If anything, I was making myself feel more overwhelmed because I had to fit these practices into my already busy day. And whilst I was meditating I was mentally composing an email I had to send. Whilst I was moving my body I was worrying about a conversation I'd had with a friend. Whilst I was colouring I was thinking about all the thing I should be doing instead that were more productive use of my time.

I knew what I should be doing. I knew why I should be doing it. I know how to do it. And yet there was still a huge block for me. It was during a Restorative Yoga class (which if you haven't done before I highly recommend!) where the teacher said something I already knew, but for some reason just hit me at the right time and has never left me. 90% of GP visits have their origin based in stress. Yet we keep piling on, piling on, piling on more and more items on our to do list as if that is the solution to this growing pandemic. Restorative Yoga, Meditation, Mindful Crafts, Walking, when done with intention, take us out of our stress response, and into our natural state of rest and relaxation where the body can heal. These practices, in our modern world, are the most valuable use of our time.

And it struck me, that even though I was carving out the time, I wasn't truly valuing the practice. Part of me always felt like I could be doing something more productive or valuable with my time. And for me, what is more valuable than my health? And through this, I've learned a powerful lesson.

It doesn't matter so much what you do, but how you do it.

And with this mindset shift, these practices are no longer things I feel like I have to do, they're not something I'm adding to my to do list, but it's time for me that I am grateful for. That I truly value. Time where I know I am giving my body, mind and heart the greatest opportunity for optimal health.

Much love as always
Alexandra