“What is without periods of rest will not endure.” —Ovid
Recently, I spent a few weeks on vacation. The time was filled with travel, reconnecting with family, playing golf, swimming, sleeping, and reading. As you can probably imagine, it was quite enjoyable. But more than that, it was desperately needed.
Consider the benefits that rest offers:
- a healthier body.
- more balance.
- less stress.
- deeper relationships.
- better opportunity to evaluate life’s direction.
- a new, fresh outlook.
- increased productivity.
Yet, despite all the proven benefits of rest, intentionally setting aside regular time for rest is a practice that has become undervalued and underappreciated in today’s culture. We have become overworked, overstressed, and exhausted. Yet, Sabbath (setting aside one day each week for rest) remains a dying practice that less and less people practice regularly (never mind the idea of actually taking a two-week vacation).
Overlooking the importance of rest is certainly not unique to our modern society. But our culture has made it increasingly difficult to take rest without specific intentionality.
Consider some of the factors prevalent in our modern society that argue against the idea of rest:
• Rest has become confused with laziness. We live in a society that praises those who work 60hrs/week and makes faulty assumptions about those who work 40. We have confused rest with laziness. And while too much rest may indeed be an indicator of sloth, the regular practice of finding rest is not.
• The desire for money has become unquenchable. Modern society loves money. We love it to a point that we will sacrifice much of ourselves to gain more of it. Some sacrifice morals, character, or family. Others consider rest a fair trade… and will gladly sacrifice it at the altar of the almighty dollar.
• Success is measured incorrectly. Similarly, we have begun to measure success by the amount of cash in savings, the size of our homes, or the model of our cars. The nicer one’s lot in life, the more successful they must be. Unfortunately, this is a faulty measure of success. The true test of success should be measured in significance rather than success. But often times finding significance requires us to rest long enough to recalibrate our lives around the things that matter most.
• We live in a world that is always “on”. While electricity may have made it easier to work late into the night, the Internet has surrounded us with opportunities and relationships 24 hours/day. Today’s world never stops. And when the possibility to make money every hour of the day is combined with the desire to do so, rest quickly gets pushed aside.
• A false sense of urgency surrounds us at every moment. We live in a world that floods our minds with so much information that it has become difficult to sort out the important from the unimportant. As a result, the urgent needs of the day crowd out the important. And rest puts up little fight against the urgent.
• Our minds require distraction. Our minds have become addicted to stimulation and validation. As a result, it has become increasingly difficult to turn off E-mail, Facebook, or Twitter… not to mention cell phones, televisions, or the Internet. And when our minds begin to require distraction, rest becomes an increasingly difficult state to achieve.
• Rest cannot be rushed. Modern society loves shortcuts. We desire 15-minute abs, 30-minute meals, and 1-hour photos. Unfortunately, rest can never be rushed. It must be entered deliberately and allowed to complete its cycle in due time. By definition, this requires patience… and a cleared schedule.
• A misunderstanding that rest is purely physical. Rest is physical. But it is more than that. It is mental, emotional, and spiritual. It is an understanding that the world is going to survive without you. It is an inner strength that allows you to disconnect from accomplishing “work” and focus on yourself and those around you. It is not mere physical leisure. It is rest: body and soul.
I have worked hard to keep a day of rest as an important part of my life and weekly routine. But it is an upward battle that requires relentless intentionality—we live in a culture that has far too often underappreciated its value.
SurvivalWoman says
I read your article with great interest since over the years, I felt “picked on” for needing or wanting downtime. Like many others, the drive to achieve overshadows everything else and the very last thing we want to do is be perceived as weak or lazy or, heaven forbid, incompetent.
Thank you for the reminder that we all need to rest. And that the need for rest comes with no excuses!
— Gaye
Ellie says
I completely agree with that, Gaye – especially now we’re running our own business. We have a little bookshop and I sometimes have to remind my mum that althought we COULD open later, and we COULD open extra days during holiday seasons, it’s not something that’s necessarily a good thing. She sees a missed opportunity to make money; I see a vital opportunity to rest. Ironically, the busier the season, the more important it is NOT to be at work all the time, because we need our time off more to stay motivated and healthy!
736hundred says
Thank you for this post. I am a prime example of a person who can never stop. I don’t know how to relax unless I am completely exhausted or have the flu. I know I have to change this, and I reading and learning to start changing my life. :)
laura says
Besides a decent nights sleep, rest can mean doing anything relaxing, like going to a state park and walking the trails, the beaches, etc. I know of people who keep working way past retirement and don’t live long enough to retire as they have to keep getting “stuff” or whatever. The simpler life, with less consuming, makes more time for all this. I prefer vacations away from people as he and I are more reclusive in retirement, and like to get out in nature.
Michelle Bross says
So much to do and to consume, we have no time to rest for fear of missing out on something more. What just hit me, the “more” that we are scurrying to find, is right in front of our eyes. If we would only take a rest and be mindful enough to see the beauty and love among us.
http://www.mychildsgardener.com/1039/remember-the-sabbath/
Matthew says
Outstanding discussion of the importance of downtime. Thanks for the post. I especially honed in on the idea that we overwork ourselves because we misapprehend the definition of “success”.
We must each redefine prosperity for ourselves.
Thanks again
-M
Living the Balanced Life says
While I agree the physical rest is very important, your last point, about the misunderstanding that rest is purely physical is such a key point. Even if we do manage to take some time “off”, unless we intentionally, with determination, work to slow our minds down and rest our psyche, we still end up with an an exhausted overloaded brain after vacation or a long weekend.
While I am making this observation, it is not something that I have fully achieved either, it is a constant battle in our society.
Great post Joshua!
Bernice
Is your busyness covering up pain?
Dave Bruno says
I once heard Dallas Willard answer the question, “What do Americans need more than anything else?” He said, “Naps.”
wordplayhouse™ says
The necessity of rest is evident in a toddler’s missed nap time tantrums or crankiness, but adults too need to recognize the symptoms of too little rest—impaired creativity, lower work output and more. Your reminders ring true. Children—and adults—need rest.
Yan | Towards simplicity says
Thank you for the reminder Joshua.
@Megyn, when I go through long periods of hectic days and little sleep, I find that 5-minute meditation sessions, sprinkled throughout the day, help me slow down, get perspective and eliminate stress. I feel much better after each session.
Megyn @ Minimalist Mommi says
What great timing! I’m reading this as I’m exhausted and know I should already be in bed, but can’t seem to get there. I would LOVE a break to just rest. However, with two young kiddos and a husband who has to work lots of hours just to make our miniscule budget, it’s not so much an option. But it’s desperately needed (already landed in the ER once this year from dehydration). What is your solution for those of us who have to work so hard just to put food on the table? Actually just posted about this financial issue of wanting things to be easier, but the way our society is (and the cost of it all) is not allowing us to get to a place where we can afford a rest.
joshua becker says
Megyn, I’d make a small goal of intentional, weekly rest and then try to keep it. If one day/week seems too much at first, shoot for just one afternoon that you can set aside time each week. And don’t make it too complicated… a 1-2 hour nap may be just what you need. Planning an easy, recurring dinner idea would also be helpful on those days.
Jenn says
Megyn I can relate! I’ve got 3 kiddos 5,4,2 and a husband who works long hours. Joshua no offense, I love your blog and most of what you right, but when I read “1-2 hour nap” I laughed out loud. If you’re the primary caregiver of young kids, that is not likely to happen on any sort of a regular basis. (unless they are also willing to nap. at the same time.)
I don’t have a good solution, I am always tired too. But one thing that helps me is to separate the idea of physical rest from mental rest. Honestly I need the mental break more many days, and i find it easier to make room for in my life…I often get up early to steal some time by myself. I find I actually have more energy the days I get up at 5 to go for a walk or a run, even though I gave up sleep to do so. It’s so important to carve out some time for a “sanity break.”
I don’t have any family in the area, so I’ve also worked hard to form a community of moms around me to help share the load. Sometimes we’ll do playdates where each one tags out for an hour or so, or even take each other’s kids for the afternoon. It’s a chance to be alone without having to come up with money for a sitter. Hope you find a way to catch a break! Oh, and before you go to bed fill up a few water bottles and stash them in a central place – I like the ones with a straw top so you don’t need hands. Take a swig every time you walk by. No good to be in the ER dehydrated!
Sarah says
If you have a supportive network who takes the kids for an hour or so at a time, then you DO have time for an hour nap. Excuses.
Rebecca S. says
Megyn…If you haven’t already done so, take a look at your budget to see if there are areas you can cut to lighten the financial burden. We used to think we were frugal until we reviewed our actual spending vs. what we thought we were spending. WOW – that was an eye-opener. Lots of insidious costs disguised as needs (which were actually conveniences). Also, double check your diet and make sure you’re getting good nutrition. Supplement if need be. Best of luck!
peron says
Do you know how harse that sounds? Not everything is an excuse.