I have noticed that my life has grown busier and busier over the years. My friends and patients say the same is true for them. We all seem to maintain very full schedules with work and family obligations, as well as a number of other assorted activities. These continual endeavors are not necessarily bad in and of themselves, but they can rob us of sense of peace, joy, and our mental and physical health.
In addition, life is filled with challenges, from financial problems to personality conflicts. These challenges confront us at home, work, and social situations. They wear us out physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
It is safe to say that most Americans do not rest enough. In fact, only 57% of U.S. workers use up all of their vacation days.
Yet, a life without enough rest cannot be said to be a healthy one.
Rest replaces weariness and exhaustion with peace, energy, and hope. Deep, restorative rest is essential for establishing and maintaining health. Maybe that is why God thought it was important enough to include as one of the Ten Commandments: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. On the Sabbath you shall not do any work.”(Exodus 20:8)
A full day of rest and quiet, joyfully spent with loved ones, is a prescription for rejuvenation. Such times give us back our perspective on what is truly important for our lives.
And, although short of a full Sabbath day devoted to rest, even a night of seven to eight hours of quality sleep can work wonders! Again, most of us try to get by on less.
Other strategies include taking deliberate time out during our busy days for rest. I have found a 5 minute break to be remarkably restorative. Usually, I do this at lunch. I begin with a breathing exercise, in which I breathe slowly and deeply: in for a slow count of 4, then out for a slow count of 6. I combine this time with prayer, which refreshes me spiritually and helps me refocus us on what is truly important in life. It also provides a chance to fall back on some Divine strengthening and renewal. This 5 minutes makes the entire afternoon more productive and rewarding.
How about you? Do you get enough rest? Are you taking time for personal restoration? As your Doctor, may I humbly remind you that you cannot be healthy without it!