Sacred Rest

 I think we, in this modern day and age, have lost touch with what it means to actually rest.  We take vacations and have weekends, but often we don't really stop.  With phones and computers (and phones that are computers...) we are always within reach of jobs and family and responsibilities.  We have become masters at multi-tasking, but we don't really know how to truly let go and relax.

Part of this stems from the super competitive world we live in.  We feel that if we aren't accessible to our boss, perhaps our job will be given to someone else (or we may be looked over for promotion or other benefits).  We extend our availability far beyond what it should be.  Of course some jobs come with an 'on call' responsibility, but for most of us, once we have left work, we don't need to be at our job's beck and call...and yet we are.

And, as many people found out during this pandemic, just because you work from home doesn't make it easier to relax and let go.  In fact, quite the opposite is true.  If you are able to work at home, you have to set very clear boundaries on what is work time and what is not, or you end up having your work bleed over into your home life all the time.  

Outside of work, there are a lot of other responsibilities we carry with us.  Making sure everyone gets fed, everything gets cleaned, all appointments are met on time...these are all burdens we carry, and they not only take up physical time and energy (to do the tasks), but also mental time and energy (to remember to do the tasks).  This mental strain is one that wears on us, it is where we are least likely to let go and truly rest.

Even when we are supposed to be resting, we often are trying to 'catch up' on stuff we think we should have done (or things that are coming up).  We are so busy, it can be hard to actually stop.  A lot of people feel so overworked that they don't feel like they can even take a five minute break, and that is a shame!

I remember reading an article about our ancestors, back when we were hunter gatherers.  It was debunking the notion that ancient peoples worked all the time.  Yes, there was lots of work to be done, but there were still times where work couldn't be done.  If you only have a campfire, once the sun goes down, your options are limited.  In the depths of winter, when snow covers the land, there isn't as much to do.

Even once we developed agriculture and started keeping tamed animals, there were fallow times.  Certain seasons might be extra busy, but there were also times where there wasn't much going on.  Times where people could rest and recover.  Time for sitting around with family and friends, telling stories and reminiscing.

And though women tend to have more 'never ending' type of work, in days past they would band together, and share their work, so that individual women could take breaks.  In some places, a woman was considered unclean during her menstrual period, and so was secluded (and thus exempt from her regular duties).

Rest is one of those things that is more vital than we may think.  If you aren't well rested (and I don't mean just getting enough sleep, though that is certainly a part of it), you start to drag at everything else you do.  Your mood wanes and you may find yourself more irritable than usual.  Things take longer, because you just are so tired of doing them.

Taking time off can feel enormous.  It may make you a bit crazy at first (what do you mean I shouldn't worry about what's for dinner???), and you may have a bit of a freak out at thinking about what won't get done while you are resting.  

But here's the thing.  Most of the chores we do (and stress over), don't get harder if we skip them a time or two.  If you miss one cleaning session, it doesn't take you twice as long to clean the next time you go to do it.  And other things that we worry about doing 'on time', may not actually matter (if you are resting, eat when you feel like it!)

A big part of taking a proper rest is communicating to the people in your life about your intentions.  Turn off your phone (so you won't be temped to answer that work call).  Tell your family that you are taking the day off (and perhaps get someone to handle the kids or food or those kind of things).  And then tell yourself!

Pick things that not only relax you, but that restore you.  Things that nourish your spirit.  This could mean different things to different people!  Maybe, you are craving a long soak in the tub.  Maybe you want to wander in the woods all day.  You might like to set aside a day to play a new game, or read a book (a new one or an old favorite).  You could fix some snacks and watch a movie or binge watch a show.  You could craft or do art.

The big thing is you deliberately and intentionally put 'should' and 'must' do things out of your mind.  Let yourself be free for some time.  If you find yourself starting to think about chores or work or other responsibilities, just remind yourself that you are on a rest, and that someone else can handle it.

And once you start to get the hang of taking time off, make it a regular thing.  Make rest part of your spiritual practice, because it is sacred and necessary and it will make every other part of your life better.  Simply knowing you have a rest time coming up lets you push a little harder and give more freely, because you know you can take a break soon.  

You will want to work up to at least a full day off, but smaller sacred rests can be a huge boost as well.  If you are absolutely slammed, take five minutes, or a single breath.  Set up a touchstone or ritual, that you can access anywhere, to key your mind into the fact that you are on a break.  This might mean a simple phrase you can say to trigger letting go ("Just for a moment, I am free."), it might be a hand gesture (maybe you will find a mudra you love), it might be a piece of jewelry you can wear while working (a spiritual symbol or a personal one).  What you use isn't as important as the fact that you keep doing the same thing when you take a break...and you try to just let everything go for that short moment you have.

Whether your rest time is long or short, it is a respite from the constant pressure we have to keep going.  Rest is necessary to avoid burnout, to keep us inspired and excited to face each moment.  Rest helps us be the best version of our Self that we can be.  So no matter what is going on in your life, no matter what your circumstances are, find ways to properly rest and make it part of your sacred work!