Well hello to you my reader chums! I'm guilty of admitting, I'm not very good at taking rest days, having a break, or pausing on being busy; it's just part of who I am. However, as I've gotten older, I've begun to learn that it's more than okay to take a break, take a step back and simply rest - and why I should be doing this more.
Whether you're like me and don't know when to stop or are feeling guilty about having a rest day, here are the reasons why it's so important to have a rest day.
It's a chance to recharge
If you're constantly going for it, whether that's in your job or your fitness routine, then eventually you will burn out, which isn't healthy at all. And, it will have a detrimental effect on your mental health - which will only make you associate the thing you're overworking at as a negative image.
Having a rest day from work, fitness, or your busy life will give your body and mind the chance to relax and recharge - so when you want to go for it again, you'll be ready for it. If you work at 100% all of the time, you won't be able to always give a high percentage of energy, as that'll slowly dwindle, and you'll be working off tired fumes.
Take regular breaks and recharge to be able to get your full self back and then give your all. I've found this to work a treat, whether that's for my blog, job, or a fitness routine. Giving myself time to recharge means, I'll be able to be on my A-game again - you need to recharge like your phone does every single night.
To take care of your body
Your body is your temple and should be taken care of in every instance, whether that's with what you eat, getting out and out, looking after your mental health, and doing things that are right for you. But, it also comes down to ensuring you're giving your body the opportunity to relax and rest when it needs it, in order for you to live your best self.
You only get one body and you need to look after it. After all, your body does everything for you; it keeps you alive and heals you - and often or not, the physical symptoms it shows you such as anxiety or pains, are warning signs of how you're taking care of it.
I've definitely started to take care of my body a lot more recently, fuelling it how it needs, exercising, keeping hydrated, and making my mental health a top priority in day-to-day life.
To learn to live intuitively
This has to be my favourite tip as really links to why resting is so important for your body and mind. Living intuitively means really listening to your body in terms of eating and what it needs in every given instance. If you feel like you need to get up and go for a walk, do it, if you're feeling extra tired, have a sleep and if you're hungry, eat. It's really that simple - and will do you wonders.
Your body is more in tune with your mind than you think and listening to it really is key. This is why things like meditating, using crystals, and aligning chakras, really help you figure out what your body needs.
To understand life isn't meant to be full-on all of the time
I feel like this is something I need to shout at my past self because as I've previously said, I'm guilty of being a very busy person as I thought that is what life is meant to be about. However, this is not the case at all. Life is what you want it to be, and as humans, we're not designed to work all the time. We're put on this Earth to enjoy everything around us and appreciate, and learn from everything thrown our way.
Life can be fast sometimes and it can also be incredibly slow, and both ways are okay - but as long as you take the rest involved with that is the most important thing.
And know, some of the best things in life are at a slower pace
It probably took me until we went into the first lockdown to realise this point. With the world shutting down, we were forced to stop our fast-paced lives and go into something a lot slower. Once I started living at a slower pace, I realised the beauty in it and I didn't have to constantly be busy with work, socialising, or jetting over the world to be fulfilled.
I could get the same fulfilling feeling taking a walk down the local beach, spending an afternoon in a good book, having a workout, and having facetime with a pal. I didn't need all the fancy extras - and this also helped me realise why a slower-paced life and taking rest days are so beneficial to my mental health.
I hope you enjoyed this post. What other reasons do you have?
Thank you for reading <3
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This is such a great post! I like your thoughts about not living your life full on all the time and taking time to live in the moment. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI needed to read this post today! I need to remind myself to take a rest day once in a while, I'm somebody who is always looking for something to do rather than just relax! x
ReplyDeleteLucy | www.lucymary.co.uk
I'm so glad you liked it thank you! xx
DeleteI am often tempted and encouraged to charge along fullspeed and not stop in a world that is constantly humming. It is so important to implement our own stop signs and actually come to a full stop as needed. Living intuitively is definitely a sure fire way to learn to listen to our bodies!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing. <3
Yes, exactly that!!
DeleteI'm a strong believer in work and life separation. Working out of hours is a big no. I did Run Every Day in January but just for those few weeks, back to 3 times a week now. Love this post.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you there! Thank you!!
DeleteI think it's so important to take time off! I tend to have my time off on a Saturday!
ReplyDeleteKatie | katieemmabeauty.com
Yes definitely!
DeleteSo, so important! I think I've really learnt how to manage this in the past year with having to stay at home. But something to keep in mind for sure as the world (hopefully!) gets back to normal.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
DeleteThis was a lovely post to read. Everyday doesn't have to be a hustle day but life can get so busy that we forget to take time off and have rest days. I am always so busy. Combining blogging with school work is not easy at all. Sometimes, it goes well, other times, it's a total mess but this has motivated me to take a step back from everything and have a rest day.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteThis is something I need to do more. Since my health has changed I have to take more rest days even when I think I can do something. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
DeleteI love this! It took me up until very recently to learn this the hard way. Taking breaks are essential 🖤
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
DeleteI love what you said about “life is not meant to full on all the time” because it is so true! Like you I love to be busy, and I have just had two days off work (I picked some great sunny days) and I was painting in the garden. I am not the type of person that likes to sit down and watch TV all day, I just cannot do it! But I do remember to slow down and take time for me lately which is good. Great post! X
ReplyDeleteI'm glad we're so similar! Thank you xx
DeleteI'm so bad at taking rest days because I feel guilty. You're right though, life isn't meant to be full on all the time, so I definitely need to take that advice sometimes! :) xx
ReplyDeleteHolly | www.gollymissholly.uk
Thank you!
DeleteI love having rest days but it's hard to completely rest when you have a baby!
ReplyDeleteCorinne x
www.skinnedcartree.com
I can imagine! x
DeleteI've been taking more rest days recently and have noticed such a difference. There really is so many benefits to taking some time out and I completely agree with the ones you've mentioned.
ReplyDeleteSame here!
DeleteYou're so right, I should really listen to you. I very rarely have a rest day, Monday-Friday I'm working at my job, I blog in between and in the evenings and weekends. Weekends are taken up transforming my house.
ReplyDeleteI was once told, if you don't stop and take a rest, your body will do it for you.
This long weekend, I'm going to have a full rest day!
Rosie
Yes exactly that, it's so important x
DeleteI am so bad at taking time off, i am always on the run to finish my to do list, do some thing here and there and run very last minute with things. As you said though, I realised too during lockdown that great things happen when you slow down and also started listening more to my body. Thank you for sharing x
ReplyDeleteI'm glad we're so similar! x
DeleteI really enjoyed this because it's something that I struggle with a lot. Whenever I don't do something, I feel like I'm being lazy, even when I know that I need to recharge.
ReplyDeleteThis is so true, I think we’ve all been through times of overworking ourselves! Great post thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteI learnt the need for rest days the hard way, I used to run everyday, sometimes only a mile so it wasn't always an intense workout but it wasn't long before my knees told me that approach wasn't okay long term. Overworking your body does it no good at all x
ReplyDeleteSophie
www.glowsteady.co.uk
It really doesn't do your body any good!
DeleteI 100% agree! It is so important to have a rest day and recharge. I sometimes feel guilty about taking a break, as I feel like I should be doing something, but taking a rest is just as important.
ReplyDeleteListening to your body is such a beneficial tip, as is taking things slowly sometimes.
These are all important reasons; thank you for sharing. 😊
Thank you so much!!
DeleteSuch a gorgeous post, Della! I agree, society pressures everyone who work so much and everyone needs rest days! I always make sure to listen to my body and mind when I feel the need to take a day or two off. Thank you for sharing xx
ReplyDeleteLynn | www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
Thank you so much!!
DeleteI've been trying to take more rest days in the past month, I've very used to overworking and it's really helping me. I find that I have a better mindset when I do take more rests x
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it's helping you!
DeleteThis is so important, but I tend to overplan a lot. I haven’t had a free day for months and it’s driving me crazy haha. Can’t wait for some time alone 😊
ReplyDeleteI get this!
DeleteIt is so important to rest, whether that's from work, the gym, or just everything that is on your plate! Thank you for sharing this post, it is so important to look after yourself as well as your work x
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!
DeleteWe all (and especially workaholics) need this reminder from time to time. It's easy to get caught up in all the tasks you set for yourself, but eventually our battery runs out.
ReplyDeleteI also think energy management is very important in this. You can take a rest day after a full workweek but if your battery isn't dead, why would you? The other way around, you might need a rest day after 3 workdays and so on.
Eventually, it's all about awareness, in my opinion!
This is such a great point!
DeleteI'm not very good at taking a rest day either. Thanks so much for this important reminder. I need to do it more often!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad this post gave you the reminder you need!
DeleteI've learnt the need to have a rest day the hard way. I used to overwork my body and I felt so burnout and I want to give up everything. So this is such an important reminder for me to do it often and take a break whenever I want. Thank you for this wonderfully-written post xx
ReplyDeletelenne | lennezulkiflly.com
Thank you so much lovely!
DeleteLove this post! And I agree with everything you said. Learning to live intuitively is a new point which I haven't seen mentioned before but it totally makes sense.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
DeleteI read a quote once that said "you only have enough energy for one day at a time" and it really stuck with me. Rest days are so important - I can't function without mine now! x
ReplyDeleteI love that!!
DeleteI love this post. I'm always rushing around and exhausted. But today I'm doing stuff for me. I kept wondering what it would be like to have a day where I do only stuff I wanted too. And not forcing myself to do anything else. Haven't quite got there yet but I'm finding a balance of some down time
ReplyDeleteThank you! That is so important xx
DeleteThis is such a great post. I found that I was working and then spending my days of blogging and it just got too much because I was never having time to myself. Now I have one day free of my blog per week and it has made me so much better. I love having some self-care time or just being away from my phone for a few hours.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much!! xx
DeleteThis is really a great post for me! I had such a worse week in the last week of March! I decided to have a whole week to rest. It's really worth the time. Now I'm back to blogging again. Thanks for sharing this sweetie x
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm glad to hear that x
DeleteTaking time off to learn how to live intuitively is such a good point! It's important to know when you need to take time to yourself :) x
ReplyDeletehttps://www.femaleoriginal.com
Thanks for sharing, having a rest day is what I need at the moment to re-group as think of what our next steps are, as we always busy with life we forget to :)
ReplyDeleteNic | Nic's Adventures & Bakes
You're so right. having a rest day is important to me.
ReplyDelete27 blonde
100% agree with this! As someone that prioritizes self-care, I think it’s so important to take breaks and take a day off just to enjoy! Life isn’t just about working and paying bills !
ReplyDelete