Yes, you can
Take the damn nap because rest is the work
I remember as a young mother being so tired with two little ones under the age of 6. Neither of them wanted to nap and yet all I wanted to do was to sleep. For so many of my younger years, especially when I was a teenager and young adult, I stayed up very late, surviving on mere hours of sleep. As a young mom I was then begging for the very thing I fought against for so many years - rest. The irony was not lost on me.
My kids are teenagers now, but my struggle with rest is ongoing. Some of it is just scheduling between kids and work and caregiving, but more of it is based on my relationship to rest which is consistent with how our culture reinforces the concept. Somehow rest been turned into a thing you earn, not a thing you deserve. There’s a certain amount of productivity you have to do before you can rest. If you’re rich enough, you’ve earned the right to live most of your life in rest and relaxation and society will applaud you. However, if you’re not seen as “productive”, or rich enough to rest, then be prepared to be called lazy or unambitious or incompetent. Simply, is rest is portrayed as a luxury only given to “worthy” people, while the rest of us will have to get by on whatever we can jam in.
Science, however, clearly shows that rest is a key component to our health and isn’t just a luxury but a requirement for healthy living. EVERYONE NEEDS IT! Benefits of rest include:
reducing stress
improving mood
helping prevent cardiovascular disease and cancers
increasing creativity, cognition and problem-solving skills
enhancing decision making skills
Clearly, rest has the potential to increase productivity, not damage it. The perception that rest reduces productivity persists despite what science says. I think this is also why companies are so resistant to work-from-home (WFH). The underlying assumption is that if you’re not visibly working, then you are likely doing “unproductive” things or, in my mind, things that aren’t directly tied to your compensation package but are necessary for you and your eco-system to function.
The science on whether WFH is a net benefit to the employer is mixed. Some studies show that work from home models are more productive while others show they are less productive compared to in-office work environments. However, when looking at the WFH experience of employees, the results are clear: it increases job satisfaction, happiness levels and is more attractive for younger workers. Moreover, work happiness is correlated to overall life happiness. All great things when so many people are struggling with mental health.
Job satisfaction and happiness levels stave off burnout which has been estimated to cost the American economy $125-190 B per year. In fact, burnout is such a problem that the World Health Organization added it to its International Classification of Diseases list describing it as:
“… a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions: 1) feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; 2) increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one's job; and 3) reduced professional efficacy. Burnout refers specifically to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life."
Working in the advocacy space is a hard environment to stay positive, effective and energetic. Burnout rates in the not for profit sector are notoriously higher than in other sectors. We can get good people to come on board but getting them to keep going is tough. Having people commit for their careers or volunteer for the long haul is even tougher. So rest in this type of work, including emotional support and connection to others needs to be intentional and pervasive. Yet, the sector is still heavily focused on urgency and working beyond reasonable limits.
As a result of capitalist influences and puritan culture, we’ve demonized rest and made whether you rest and how much you rest a moral issue. Someone who works their tail off, never stopping to rest is seen as good and virtuous for the cause. Someone who takes vacations, doesn’t work weekends, says no or holds firm boundaries about what they can do or not do is “not as committed”.
“You can sleep when you’re dead - the planet needs saving now!” (or insert your chosen cause). “Rest is not an option!”
Rest is necessary. Rest is part of the work. Most likely, you are not getting enough rest and you should rest more. That means you won’t be able to jam every minute of the day with tasks. Good! Being a proponent of rest is radical. Sometimes it means prioritizing home life over work life, not doing the fifth meeting that day and saying no as much as you say yes (still working on that one). Our insistence that we need to stay “productive” and “effective” at the expense of our own health is killing us quite literally.
So how can you rest more? Cut. I heard once the answer to stress is less not more, so what can you cut? What standards can you relax a little bit? What tasks can you delegate? What is on your to-do list that isn’t urgent, but you’re making it so? Will letting it slide a day or two really cause chaos? Be discerning about where you put your energy.
Get to know rest beyond sleep. Maybe you’re not someone who naps or can’t nap easily. Rest is more than just sleeping. Think about other ways to incorporate rest into your date by using this list below:
Physical rest: including passive (naps, lounging, sleep) and active (yoga, stretching, light runs, massages)
Mental rest: meditation, journalling, listening to music
Sensory rest: getting away from screens and stimulation mainly, sensory deprivation, saunas.
Emotional rest: journalling, talking to supportive friends and loved ones, social time
Social rest: each of us have our own limits, so knowing when to hibernate and spend some time alone is important
Creative rest: Are you struggling with a problem or trying to come up with a solution, new approach or tactic but can’t seem to come up with anything? Then you probably need some creative rest. Put your problem-solving on hold. Take a walk, watch a movie or do other things that allow you to take in creativity without having to do anything with it.
Spiritual rest: This doesn’t have to involve any particular type of religion or spirituality but speaks more to connecting yourself to something larger than you. This could include prayer, religious services or traditions, but could also include volunteering, connecting with a community of your choosing or even going into nature for a short retreat.
This battle for the future of our planet, for the future of humanity is not a sprint. We need more people committed to doing their part, not fewer. So stop pretending that one extra hour or an all nighter is going to be all you need to keep on top of things. We all deserve rest and more than we’re liking getting.
This is a marathon and we need you for the long haul.
Rest because it’s necessary for the work not an obstacle to it. Rest because your body, mind and spirit were designed to have it. Rest because holding your own health and wellness above anything else is a radical act and who doesn’t like being radical? ;)
Weekly News Digest and Resources - “The Blowhole”
If you’re wondering if you are experiencing burnout, here is a list of stages. If you’re feeling burned out, then consider these resources.
In south-western Ontario, a fight to keep farmland alive is getting heated and this issue could set dangerous precedent. Link
Bradford Bypass is getting more spin, but the science and evidence is still alarmingly thin. Link
From the playground to politics, it’s the bullies who rule. But it doesn’t have to be this way. By George Monbiot Link
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Like what we talk about and want to engage with our coalition more? Check us out on social media or drop us a line if you’d like to volunteer: info@simcoecountygreenbelt.ca
