Hi everyone,
Welcome to the Forum’s new topic!
This week’s topic is “rethinking rest”.
With the pace of life and all the things we need to get done, we can often put ‘rest’ at the bottom of our priority list. The Mental Health Foundation UK highlight that daily rest and relaxation can help in many ways, including:
“For many of us there is a sense of shame attached to the idea of rest, making us feel that we can’t, and don’t deserve to, take time out. While we all have very real to-do lists, it is important to hold a cut-off time so that the opportunity to rest doesn't disappear before our eyes. We may feel guilty when we take time off; that it’s selfish, irresponsible, and excessive. This narrative is dangerous; it can drive us beyond the realm of tiredness and lead to burnout.”
For more information about how we can rethink rest, see: www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-06/Rethinking-Rest-guide-from-the-Mental-Health-Foundation.pdf
So, what are your thoughts?
How does rest fit into your routine?
How could you protect time to rest?
How do you think more rest might make you feel? Why?
We would love to hear your reflections below!
*Want to chat more? We run chatrooms every week and would love to see you there!*
All the best,
Lulu
Online Peer Support Team
Hi Lulu,
Thanks for a great post regarding 'rethinking rest'
I feel the benefits of rest you have posted via The Mental Health Foundation UK are highly beneficial for all and it just shows how important it is for us to rest and enable our bodies and minds to recover from the stress of daily life.
How does rest fit into your routine?
Rest is an important part of my routine and I need to ensure that I provide myself with the time to rest or I may begin to feel overwhelmed, especially when things are busy!
How could you protect time to rest?
I have boundaries in place and try to maintain those boundaries as best I can.
How do you think more rest might make you feel? Why?
I feel grateful when I have the time to rest and it provides me with gratitude. Sometimes my mind is still very active, so I may try to watch a good program or read a book, depending on how I'm feeling. On the other hand, I may try to just be calm and still and in the moment to appreciate the feelings of comfort that rest brings.
Thank you for the insightful post and the questions which enabled me to enter a mode of self-reflection. I look forward to more of these!
Thanks
Peer Supporter Cabe
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