Recently someone told me she’s been walking through a very stressful month where she’s had to give more of herself to others than usual and hasn’t had any margin to recharge. And we all need to recharge sometimes, don’t we? We could use a lot of metaphors to describe this experience— the need to fill back up after feeling empty, the need to regroup or reorient after chaos or feeling disoriented. The need to reset and refresh and recharge. It’s all about the same thing- making time to prioritize our own emotional, spiritual, physical, and relational needs and honor those needs. To change something in our schedule, to be able to get those needs met so we can pour out again. 

We spend so much of our time engaging in life-draining things, but maybe it’s time for the life-giving things. We can’t avoid all the draining things, but the life-giving things must be prioritized or we’ll fall apart. We’ll be completely depleted with nothing left to give.

Rest is about the refreshing and the refilling and the recharging. It’s about making space for life-giving things on a daily basis so we can be healthy people. We’ve recently talked about the benefits of rest and how Jesus teaches us to rest here in this space, but today, let’s talk about some practical ways we can do rest. 

I think in order to personalize this, you’ll need to write down what has been draining you lately— mentally, emotionally, physically, relationally, etc. Then think about what usually feels life-giving to you, the things that bring joy and hope and light and life. The things that energize you and at times feel effortless. The spaces and people that feel safest. The activities you love. The favorite movies and books. What feels like life to you? What breathes life back into you when you’re struggling and empty? Write all of that down and then make an effort to do several life-giving things everyday. They don’t have to be big things, but they do need to part of your daily rhythms. 

Some examples of life-giving things that can be a part of your daily life: 

Soaking in the tub

Reading a few chapters in a book 

Hugging your kids or a roommate

Praying or spending time in your bible 

Taking a walk 

Listening to a favorite album or podcast or radio show 

Check-in with a friend 

Watch funny TikTok videos 

What feels life-giving to you? 

Another part of this conversation I think worthy of noting here is that you need to be able to identify what you need. That will help you determine how you need to rest. 

Other things you can do to rest: 

Take a nap on your days off 

Go to sleep at a time at night that allows you the ideal amount of sleep you need 

Spend time outside when the weather is nice 

Go on a trip somewhere relaxing 

Leave work at work and protect your days off 

Turn off your phone for a few hours 

Don’t check your email on the weekends

Read a book 

Listen to music 

Get a massage 

Take a day off to do nothing 

Practice sitting in silence sometimes (like maybe you turn off the music in the car on your way home to give your brain a break)

Play with or cuddle with a pet 

Watch a movie 

Take care of your plants 

Go for a ride in the car away from the city 

Spend time alone 

Get a manicure 

Go fishing or spend time by the water

Do something creative 

These are just some suggestions, and I’m sure you can think of so many more. The way I rest won’t be the same way you rest, and that’s okay. As long as you see how important it is to prioritize rest in your life. In order for us to live well and love well, we need to be well. And we can’t be well if we aren’t taking care of ourselves and turning off work and setting aside the need to be successful and productive all the time. So let’s bring rest to the top of our to-do list as we take steps to more healthy and holistic living together.