The Power of Rest

Photo by Eduardo Flores on Unsplash

In this time wherein hustle culture is so popular and the idea of working yourself to death is glorified, we need more than ever to be reminded of the importance of rest. These past few days, I stayed away from my accounts as I felt that I am already dragging myself from one place to another, and I am in need of some rest.

I logged off early from work and spent time with my family. I didn’t answer chat messages in discord and even on my Facebook page and it felt so good! Though there are instances wherein I also felt guilty that I am not checking the messages directed to me and I am not replying to them I just reminded myself that for sure they understood it and I am going to respond once I am available again.

Our daily responsibilities are like full-time jobs in themselves, so I think it is really important to take a break once in a while and focus on yourself. It will not only give you time to relax but also enable you to be more productive when you get back online again.

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Rest is a way of giving yourself a break.

It is important to have a rest if you want to be more productive. You need time away from the computer and any other devices so you can recharge your batteries. If you don’t take some time off, you will feel exhausted, stressed out, and depressed. I had been in this scenario multiple times lately as I try to squeeze in the ideas in my head and stare blankly at my monitor. I have the tendency to overwork myself, especially when I am doing something that I love. I am passionate about what I do but then again once I get tired I am losing my drive.

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Breaks can help the mind recharge.

Taking breaks is important because it can help your mind recharge. The human brain is a complex system, and it needs time to process information. If you don’t give yourself some time off from work, you could experience mental fatigue, stress, and other symptoms of burnout.

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Rest can help boost creativity.

When I am not online, I just watch things move on their own without me intervening. Sometimes realizations and deep conversations happen this time as I am able to notice things outside my scope and the focus that I am into. I’m not saying that you should never go online. Rather, it is important to know when and where you are most productive in order to maximize your time. It’s also important to realize the difference between being distracted and getting lost in thought.

So, next time you are feeling tired and uninspired, take a break from your devices.

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You don't need to take a long vacation to get rest.

Contrary to the belief of many that you need to go elsewhere and spend a weeklong vacation to rest you can just simply have it done in a short time. ( But if you can please have a long vacation). The most important thing is to learn how to rest. If you are someone who has trouble relaxing, then practice meditation. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just sitting still and breathing can help calm your mind. In a short post that I created on my Facebook page, I was reminded of listening to our own breathing, the stillness of being in a place where there was no sound, just breathing. I was reminded of how easy it is to be distracted by the world around us and how much we need to be still and listen to ourselves.

Taking time to rest is an important part of self-care that many people forget about or ignore in the hustle and bustle of life. When was the last time you took some time to rest? Maybe it was just one day, or maybe it was a longer period of time. Did you notice how much better you felt after resting than before?

You may always hear me joking about why rest if you will still die but please do take that as a grain of salt. Rest if needed.