We were built to manage and handle acute stress, yes – believe it or not, a little bit of stress can actually be good for us. But chronic stress, day in and day out- we were not built, gifted, or equipped to live with the impact of long-term stress. When everything seems like it needs to be addressed with urgency, this creates a sense of panic – this is a problem.
Rest is productive.
It’s quite simple really –> xyz requires your full attention, you don’t feel like you have anything to give, you need to take time for yourself, xyz benefits from you taking time to yourself.
Rest is productive.
Our external environment has an impact on us at the cellular level – that’s right, what is happening externally has an impact on our genetic expression. Here are just some things that influence us and have an impact on our mental & physical wellbeing:
- Family, co-workers, teachers
- School, home life, work life, sports, clubs
- Neighborhood, socioeconomic status, availability of resources, safety, employment opportunities (social determinants of health)
- Cultural norms, values, stereotypes, bias
- Developmental milestones, life stages
Buffers against detrimental effects from our external world:
- Nurturing parental figures: Ages 0-5 are critical for development – infants and young children need to have their social and emotional needs met, they need enough nutrients while in utero (mom’s in a caloric deficit during pregnancy can have detrimental effects into child’s adulthood). GOOD NEWS!! Though we may have no control over how we were raised through gestation, childhood, and adolescence, there are some things that we can take hold of to support our mental and physical wellbeing at the cellular level: Therapy (CBT has been shown to be beneficial), exercise (in moderation – remember, rest is productive – exercise has even been shown to be a buffer in deterring alcoholism) , diet (EAT, foods with nutrients, enough foods, a variety of foods, regular meals and snacks), mindfulness practice (meditate, journal, sit in stillness, process your emotions, thoughts, and feelings – envision how you’d like to act & what behaviours support you).
- A nutrient rich diet including foods containing the amino acid Methionine: Turkey, beef, fish, pork, whole grains such as quinoa, tofu, milk, cheese, legumes including nuts, and beans.
- Meditation versus leisure activities – meditation has been shown to have benefits to promoting mental health in comparison to leisure activities which did not demonstrate any significant results. Be still, bring your heart rate down, decrease your stress levels, take breaks, BREATHE. Rest is productive. It’s OK to do nothing (by the way, this is coming from a recovering compulsive exerciser who used to use a 2 hour hike as “relaxation”, there’s a time and a place for each – the benefits of nature, outdoors, and movement are extensive – so, now I make time for both, meditation and stillness, giving myself time to turn inward in a world that is chaotic will ALWAYS feel good, yes it’s challenging but this is something that you can do that the external world does not control)
Rest is productive.
SO, why are you feeling like one thing happens after another and you just can’t catch up and everything is hard and challenging – because it is! When you’re in a state of chronic stress, everything is hard. When you’re being constantly impacted by your external world and being triggered emotionally here and there, yes – everything is hard. AND that’s just the little stuff – what about big things that happen that influence your wellbeing – car breaking down, marital difficulties, job loss, health issues and complications (more than one, or continuously ill health), illness in the family – you name it. All I can say is that we need to enjoy and appreciate the moments of calm, the moments of nothing, the moments of rest – use these as fuel to handle the big things that come your way. Rest, replenish, get into the quantum energetic vibration of love, gratitude, and receivership, you might find that in this realm – you’re able to attract more of what’s good and meant for you and whatever might hold you back just passes on by – or maybe you’re better equipped to manage it. I fully understand that these tips & tricks may not be effective for complex emotional difficulties, deep rooted trauma, or grief and loss. If you’re going through any of these, my heart goes out to you and I know that you’re doing the best that you can in every single moment. Please know that rest is productive for you too. Please know that you are valuable. Please know that you can reach out for support from professionals, family, friends. Please know that you’re support & we thrive as one, connected energy, and you are not a burden. You sharing your pain with someone can actually make them feel more valuable, needed, and purposeful.
Rest is productive.
It seems simple, it seems too good to be true, it seems too easy. But I always ask myself – why is the sky so beautiful, the landscapes, the tress, the mountains, the sunrises, the sunsets. If we weren’t meant to pause and enjoy – why were we graced with these? I think that it was meant to be a little easier. I think that if you try the above “buffers” and incorporate these into your life, both you & those that you love will reap the benefits of your courageous steps to veer off path in a society that rewards hustle, grind, and grit.
References:
Jones, D. E., Park, J. S., Gamby, K., Bigelow, T. M., Mersha, T. B., & Folger, A.T. (2021). Mental Health Epigenetics: A Primer With Implications for Counselors. The Professional Counselor, 11 (1), pp. 102-121. Retrieved from http://tpcjournal.nbcc.org doi: 10.15241/dej.11.1.102