This is the time to go back to basics.
Many of us live life at a constantly fast pace. With caffeine, energizers or simply by sheer force of will.
It is like ‘slapping’ the body all the time to move on and on and on.
We continue slapping our bodies like a jockey might whip a horse during a race. However, for a horse, after the race is finished, a shrewd trainer ensures that it gets a good rest and plenty of relaxation before it races again.
Not the same with ourselves. We immediately begin the next race. And then – crash!- at some point we suddenly realize that we don’t feel refreshed, even after a long sleep, or that our sleep is hugely disturbed and we can’t recharge ourselves, or that we are already so tense that rest and relaxation is difficult to achieve.
It is like ‘slapping’ the body all the time to move on and on and on.
We continue slapping our bodies like a jockey might whip a horse during a race. However, for a horse, after the race is finished, a shrewd trainer ensures that it gets a good rest and plenty of relaxation before it races again.
Not the same with ourselves. We immediately begin the next race. And then – crash!- at some point we suddenly realize that we don’t feel refreshed, even after a long sleep, or that our sleep is hugely disturbed and we can’t recharge ourselves, or that we are already so tense that rest and relaxation is difficult to achieve.
Before this happens, how can we ensure that it doesn’t happen?
Once, when I was studying biology, a teacher asked us how we distinguish a living system from a non-living system? The fundamental building blocks (chemicals in Periodic Table) are the same in both.
A living organism - the teacher said - is a ‘system repairing itself on the go.’ Whereas non-living systems can be taken to a garage like a car, stopped completely, dismantled, and then put together while stationary until it is ready to run smoothly again. A living system can’t do that. It must repair itself while the engine and all its parts are running and functioning. And the only way to do it is: to make time for doing nothing.
Resting.
Because it is only during this time that the body truly recharges, repairs itself, detoxifies.
A living organism - the teacher said - is a ‘system repairing itself on the go.’ Whereas non-living systems can be taken to a garage like a car, stopped completely, dismantled, and then put together while stationary until it is ready to run smoothly again. A living system can’t do that. It must repair itself while the engine and all its parts are running and functioning. And the only way to do it is: to make time for doing nothing.
Resting.
Because it is only during this time that the body truly recharges, repairs itself, detoxifies.
So how can we help our bodies to recharge, to repair themselves, to take that necessary deep breath and to move on with a fresh start? How do we avoid serious collapse, fatigue and burnout?
1. Simple. By doing nothing at least once a day or, preferably, a few times per day. Try taking at least 5 minutes of absolute rest initially. Just start small, and see how it feels.
2. Or, for maximum benefit, lie down in a semi-supine position (head supported, knees drawn up; or ‘corpse’ yoga pose). You can add little extras – listening to certain types of music e.g. Mozart, baroque music, or Enya will bring your brain rhythms into alpha waves automatically – the state where healing and upgrading takes place. If you don’t feel like listening to music or if it is not appropriate, you can simply place headphones with music playing on your belly –four finger widths below the navel. This is the acupressure point that is most receptive to sound. Thus you bring your body into calm and your mind into alpha waves, and the recharge – boom – happens!
3. If that is not possible because of work circumstances, then just sit quietly and breathe deeply into your belly for a minute or so. Remember, you will perform better at work if you are properly rested.
The optimal amount and time needed for rest can be established for each individual through muscle testing. One client of mine was feeling pressurised at work and struggling to meet certain targets. We tested that if she took 17 minutes sitting down and doing nothing each working day she would quickly start to feel better. And the feedback I received from her was that she didn’t just feel better, she was easily meeting her sales and productivity targets.
Your body will be very grateful to you for giving it regular rest during a day. You will notice that:
- you can get through more things from your to-do-list with ease (rest increases the speed of your productivity)
- your sleep during the night will improve
- you don’t crave sweets or coffee or such (if you did) as much as before.
But more than that – the real value of taking time for rest and doing nothing during day means:
that you are the priority for yourself
that you are the priority for yourself
You are the most important and valuable asset in the whole to-do-list! Mark it in your daily planner: 2pm-2.10pm – rest. Choose to stop the madness for a moment.
Of course, if you have already hit the point of burn-out and you feel like you cannot rest, or sleep, or recharge anymore, then you will need to consider other options initially – your body will need support in coming back to its normal state - some energy work or therapy might be needed and/or supplements to help the body to get back on track. And then get into the habit of regular rest and relaxation and even, like the wise Spaniard, occasionally doing absolutely nothing and that should do the trick!
Of course, if you have already hit the point of burn-out and you feel like you cannot rest, or sleep, or recharge anymore, then you will need to consider other options initially – your body will need support in coming back to its normal state - some energy work or therapy might be needed and/or supplements to help the body to get back on track. And then get into the habit of regular rest and relaxation and even, like the wise Spaniard, occasionally doing absolutely nothing and that should do the trick!
