Rat Race Running

As soon as we enter adulthood and start working, we realize we have much to do and work on. We then set goals (even sometimes unrealistic) for ourselves and our families.

Unfortunately, some of us push ourselves a little too hard and forget to rest and take a break every now and then.

Don’t get me wrong, but as much as we need to work (and there’s nothing wrong with working hard), we also need to rest because if not, we will soon be forced to.

Why Do We Need To Rest?

We need to rest because our body is limited and needs to recover from the stress and strains that we go through throughout the day.

Aside from the physical effect of rest, it can also help us improve our mood and concentration, reduce our anxiety and depression, and have a more positive outlook.

Think of athletes. Even the best players, especially after a high-intensity training session, will rest for a day to let their bodies recover, which is incredibly helpful in the long run.

Aside from athletes, manual labor workers also know the importance of resting because they know they need their bodies to recover from their intense physical effort.

Now, look at the current trend of hunch-backed and computer-focused jobs that keeps us seated most of the day.

Most of the time, we are not too physically tired, but we are mentally exhausted.

Then other times, there are moments when we are tired of something that we can’t pinpoint.

In this post, we’ll talk about the importance of resting, not just our bodies but also our minds and other aspects of our lives.

1. Physical Rest

We need physical rest because we are only human, and our bodies need to recharge and relax from working. Heck, even robots need to recharge themselves if they will remain efficient.

Remember that we need to sleep eight hours a night because it recharges and repairs our bodies and, if possible, a good afternoon nap now and then.

Physical rest is acknowledging our physical limits and knowing that we still need to stop when our body is telling us. Or else a doctor will tell you to stop.

Besides sleeping, it is also good to have a massage or physical therapy once a month, especially if you’re seated for most of your working hours.

Sometimes, the hustle culture is too focused on achieving material goals at the expense of their health. Funny as it may, we should never work to earn money that we’ll only use for our medical expenses.

Let us learn to respect our bodies.

2. Mental Rest

If you have already worked for more than three years, then you know the feeling of not being physically tired but mentally exhausted. Personally, I would choose physical fatigue over mental exhaustion.

The second type that we need is mental rest. Unlike physical, mental rest can’t be solved by sleep alone. 

We need to disconnect and find other ways to free up our minds from the stressors of our surroundings.

Some of the few ways for resting mentally are through:

Exercise – it helps us clear our minds. This can be as simple as walking or a few minutes of a routine.

Step back from the stressors – this can be a few minutes of stepping out of the office or a few days off to collect our thoughts. But sometimes, looking for a new job can clear up your mind.

Nature – taking a walk or simply sitting on a bench in a tree-filled park can have a nurturing effect on our minds.

Disconnect from social media – social media constantly bombards us with more information than we can handle. Disconnecting is a way to maintain our sanity.

Dogs (or pets) – if you have a pet in your house, you know what I mean. Pets, whether that be a dog or a cat, having the company of pets can help us rest our minds.

3. Social Rest

Another type that I found incredibly helpful is social rest, which can recharge our social battery. 

However, this will vary depending on whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert.

For introverts, their social battery is drained by too much interaction or crowds and can recharge by spending time alone or with a small group of people. 

However, it doesn’t mean that they are shy or antisocial. Introverts are sometimes just social minimalists and prefer smaller crowds, even if they can mix in a group.

On the other hand, extroverts love to be with crowds where they can recharge their social battery. However, they deplete it when they are mostly alone.

This means that social rest may mean connecting or disconnecting with people, depending on a person’s temperament.

However, whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, it is still important to take a step back occasionally and be alone with your thoughts.

4. Spiritual Rest

The fourth general type of rest is connected with our spiritual life and digging deep within ourselves.

For Christians, we learned that God rested on the seventh after six days of work (Genesis 2:2-3).

Likewise, we need to learn to be still, rest in God, and dedicate a day to glorifying Him. Spiritual rest may also be through prayer, fasting, meditation, and Bible reading.

Though spiritual rest may also mean different things to other people with a different faith.

Final Thought

Rest is important, and it should never be taken for granted. It is even more important today than ever because we are constantly bombarded by too many stimuli from our surroundings.

Still, we must dedicate a day and time to physical, mental, social, and spiritual rest.

Remember that when we can’t find peace and rest on our own, God can provide that peace (Phil. 4:6-7).

God bless you.