Rest: It’s a choice
These days, it seems like if you’re not busy then life is passing you by or you’re not accomplishing much. Think about how many times you ask people how they’re doing and you get the cliche response of, “Oh, man, just busy.” It’s like we don’t know what else to say. We just say we are busy.
BUT
Busy-ness is a choice. So is rest. We must choose rest. We must choose to step back from time to time and say, “That’s enough for now.” We need to listen to our bodies and our minds. Stopping for a minute doesn’t mean people are going to pass you by. It allows you to recharge and keep going…faster even.
Think about it like a NASCAR race. Professional race teams competing for million-dollar prizes can’t finish a race without making pit stops. They NEED more gas, new tires, a clean windshield…and we’re no different. Rest gives us fuel, better footing, and clear direction.
More Gas
To continue on with our NASCAR metaphor, gas is what keeps the car running. In life, our cardiovascular and immune systems keep us going. More and more research shows that taking regular breaks from work and the daily grind of life can boost your mental performance and your creativity — and that skipping breaks leads to stress and exhaustion. If you are always pushing and have the gas pedal down, you’ll never afford yourself the opportunity to rest and refill the tank, and ultimately win the race.
My pastor, Chris Hodges of Church of the Highlands, shares a story from years ago when he spoke at a conference in Australia. He describes being constantly on-the-go and running on fumes. The jet lag, combined with several speaking engagements (and lots and lots of caffeine), meant that he hadn’t taken the time to actually rest.
So, while he was in a car with his friend onto the next speaking engagement, he felt his heart rate skyrocket, palms began to feel clammy, and a feeling like the car was shrinking on top of him. He was absolutely convinced he was having a heart attack. He even called his wife to tell her that he loved her and to tell the kids. The ambulance arrived and treated him for what turned out to be a panic attack but warned him that he couldn’t continue at this breakneck pace or he could end up having a different kind of attack.
While we may not have the rude awakening Pastor Chris had, it’s possible similar events can happen to us if we don’t take time to rest and recharge.
New Tires
Tires take us where we need to go and fresh tires allow us to go even faster. When we are constantly working and not resting, we exhibit signs of wear and will slow down. The daily grind can lead to increased stress, burnout and exhaustion. Allison Gabriel, an assistant professor of management at Virginia Commonwealth University who studies job demands and employee motivation says: “When you are constantly draining your resources, you are not being as productive as you can be. If you get depleted, we see performance decline. You’re able to persist less and have trouble solving tasks.”
When we feel ourselves starting to slow down, or perhaps someone else points out the blindspot to us, it’s crucial to stop and regroup. As I mentioned before, making a “pit stop” doesn’t mean that people will pass by you and you will forever be playing catch-up. At some point, they have to stop as well.
Breaks give you the ability to recharge, come back with fresh eyes, fresh perspective and motivation to get things done. In fact, research shows that a person is more productive upon returning from vacation. So, don’t let the false narrative of people passing you by or a fear of not getting it all done keep you from resting. Stop. Regroup. Reload. Re-engage.
New Windshield
At the risk of sounding obvious, but it’s no less truthful….a clean windshield allows the driver to see better. During our journey, clutter and debris accumulate and distort our view since our last stop. When we choose to stop and break out the Windex, our mind has an opportunity to recalibrate — but it is not slowing down. More and more studies show the immense benefits rest offers when we’re trying to solve complex problems. If we are in the middle of a big decision, people often tell us to sleep on it.
On the surface, this is good advice so people don’t make emotional decisions, which could have a significant impact on ourselves and others. At a deeper level, it’s important because rest allows our brains to process information better and with more clarity.
So, when you have a problem you are trying to solve or a big decision that needs to be made — REST. Take some time to get away from it all. Go play golf, take a vacation, spend mindless time with family and friends. Do whatever you need to do, but shut it down for a little while and it should help to provide clarity to the situation.
At the end of the day, it comes down to this: take breaks or break down. It’s your choice.
