How do you integrate REST into your day (or not)?
I’ve definitely been in slow-down mode in the last few months. Not uncommon for the deepest part of winter, but as I shared in my January Deb’s Picks, I’ve also been in recovery mode after my knee replacement surgery on January 6th.
Frankly, I’ve got to say I’ve been relishing this time. I’ve been doing a lot of “smooring” as I described in that January newsletter — wrapping myself in a quiet, metaphorical cocoon. Which got me ruminating even more about the healing power of REST, and not just when we’re forced to (like after surgery!), but rather consciously integrating down time into our daily lives.
Then I thought… is it possible that REST could even be a spiritual practice? In my book, a spiritual practice is something that grounds us back to our soul-selves and restores us mentally, physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually.
That said, I know everyone has their own ideas of what constitutes REST. My dear friend Minx and my husband Peter both take naps in the middle of the day… granted, Peter’s are generally nodding off at his desk, but Minx is very intentional about hers. Or there’s even “pretend napping” with granddaughters!
I’ve known for years how important it is to take a day or two off from whatever my exercise routine is to let my body recover. And I’ve discovered recently as I’ve embraced a rigorous PT regimen after my surgery, that it’s imperative to rest in between all the “reps” — you can’t just plow through them non-stop or you’ll injure yourself.
Then I dug further (thank you, Professor Google) and discovered there’s a whole body of research about “spiritual rest”. Some of it is Christian-based, as in “rest in the Lord”, but it really does encompass all spiritual disciplines as well.
One gem I found is Octavia Raheem’s book, “Rest is Sacred“. She describes rest as “a place of refuge from the storms of life… a place to remember who you are… a place of revelation”. I’ve ordered it and can’t wait to sink into it.
Sooo many ways to REST!
Sleep, meditation contemplative reading, journaling, retreats are obvious ways to explore the sanctuary space of REST, but I suspect she has many other ideas we can embrace to incorporate those moments into our daily life.
How about you? What are some of the simple ways you incorporate REST into your day? Are you a napper? A meditator? Or maybe you step away from all of your screens and let yourself daydream for awhile!
With the Virgo/Pisces Full Moon coming up on Thursday, March 13th, you get a cosmic nudge to really explore your relationship to REST. When the Moon is in earthy, grounded Virgo, we’re reminded to slow down, take a deep breath and get organized. It’s a time to focus on our self-care, beef up our health routines, and jettison the stuff that’s weighing us down.
Coupled with the spiritual/magical, “be one-with-the Universe” Pisces season we’re moving through from February 18th to March 20th, you’ve got a powerful combo to create practical new routines for mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. (And you’ll find LOTS of them in a recent article I participated in — “At-Home Self-Care Ideas: Simple Tips for Busy Lives. Check it out and add some to your rest-full practices!
[And if you really want to dive specifically into that water-y, intuitive Pisces vibe, definitely tune into the recording of my virtual Pisces New Moon SisterCircle I facilitated through the Wellness Universe on February 27th. Our theme was “Embracing our Divinely Feminine Intuition” and I guarantee you’ll come away feeling expanded and nurtured at the same time!]
So, obviously my Deb’s Picks this month are a mixed bag of ideas to inspire you to cultivate your own practices of rest and intentionally schedule them in your calendar. Be sure to review the Deb’s Picks from January, too, for even more.
Then, please do join us for my upcoming Virgo/Pisces Full Moon TeleMeditation this Thursday, March 13th at Noon — click HERE for details on how to join us. Hope to “hear” you then!
RETHINKING REST GUIDE from the MENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION
I found this beautiful guide in my REST-full google journey and it really is a wonderful resource. It looks like it was put together for educators in the UK, but of course it’s so user- friendly for any profession, anywhere in the world. The guide covers everything, from the science behind the benefits of rest, to the six types of rest with suggestions on ways to incorporate each one into your daily or weekly routine. There are journaling questions to get you intentional about creating an ongoing commitment to rest. And there’s even a section on looking at the rhythm of your year so you can tweak your rest practices according to the changes in seasons — this cycle-loving soul definitely loved that reminder! It really is a perfect resource to get you started (or deepen) your own creating your own rest practice. Click on the title and let me know what you think!
SCIENCE BEHIND THE CHAIR OF JOY® — REST IS THE FOUNDATION!
Yeah, I know I can be a bit of a prosthelytizer when if comes to the Chair of JOY® and JOY Intelligence™, but I can’t talk about REST and not point out that the CoJ practice is one of the most simple and powerful ways to experience the benefits of rest and stillness. I’ve been diving even deeper in the science behind JQ™ as we at Joyely roll out the benefits of embracing JQ as a core life skill to organizations and schools. In fact, in my yearlong vlog series, “What’s your JQ?” this month, I’m highlighting the research behind each stage of the SIT. BREATHE. THINK. FEEL. model. It doesn’t post at the Wellness Universe until next week, but you can get a preview on my YouTube channel by clicking HERE.
TENDING YOUR CREATIVE FIRE WOMEN’S RETREAT w/ RENEE TRUDEAU; Fri., April 25 9-5PM, Canton, NC
Really, any retreat that my dear friend Renee creates incorporates massive amounts of REST and self-nurturing… it’s kind of her thing! While the stated theme is to “tend to your wild soul and ignite your creativity and aliveness as you ask, “What is uniquely mine to do?” in 2025″, blissful moments of stillness will be incorporated. You’ll learn about the power of restorative rest in a meditative mountain retreat space — truly, a body-centered day of self-renewal offering connection, journaling, meditation & pleasureful, joyful gentle movement, yoga, song, ritual and sisterhood. And all of these magical activities are led by Renee herself and a team of thought leaders and creatives. The cost is just $225 ($250 after 3/31) and she provides a full list of places to stay. Click on the link to register!
AUTHENTIC WOMAN PLAYBOOK by DEBORAH ROTH
Okay, a little shameless self-promotion here, but I really do believe that if you make your way through any of these seasonal Playbooks, you’ll not only find plenty of ways to sink into some beautiful moments of REST, but have fun doing it. It’s chock-full of revelations and reflections for you to explore 13 aspects of your divine feminine nature complete with beautiful mandalas for coloring — a wonderful, restful practice in itself. Click on the link above to get your copy — the Spring edition starts next week on the Spring Equinox on March 20th. Enjoy!
I hope some of these Picks will inspire you to incorporate more intentional REST into your daily routine. As always, if you have any events or resources to share, I’d love to hear them.
With deep, restorative blessings,
Deborah