Writer and activist Anne Lamott once said, “Almost anything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes… including you.” This statement is a modern take on the need for rest and recreation. After a hard day’s (or hard night’s) work, we all need time to rest and recover from our labor. Some of us have jobs that are physically demanding and require standing, walking, lifting or repetitive movement. Other jobs are mentally or emotionally taxing, like programming, teaching, accounting, writing or working with the public. Whatever type of work we do, it involves effort and concentration. To have that type of energy and focus everyday requires quality rest.
There is a scripture in Mark 6:3–31 (NIV) where “30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” He was modeling an early form of self-care by paying attention to signals of the body in need of fuel and sleep. He was also showing them how to set limits so they would not be depleted. Taking time away from the press of the crowds and the endless needs (for just a while) helped to replenish and renew their spirits. Then they could return to their mission of helping and healing others.
Having an awareness of our needs keeps us healthy and reduces burning out or becoming resentful of our jobs. Furthermore, If I am relying on a pilot, a driver, or a surgeon to work for me or on me, I want to be assured that they are awake, alert, sober and focusing on their job so I can get to my destination or return home to my family in a healthy condition. Rest is important for our bodies and minds. An article in the Science Insights webpage says, “Rest is how your body repairs tissue, clears waste from the brain, strengthens memories, and keeps your cardiovascular and immune systems functioning properly. It isn’t downtime in any passive sense. During rest, especially sleep, your body runs critical maintenance processes that can’t happen while you’re active. But rest also includes quiet waking periods that contribute to recovery and mental performance in ways science is only beginning to map.” The crash of an Air Canada plane into a fire truck at Laguardia Airport a few months ago sparked an inquiry into whether the air traffic controllers were able to perform their tasks for long hours and with limited crew.
So, it is imperative that we take the time to rest and replenish ourselves. Most of us equate rest with inactivity or sleep. Those breaks from work are important because they give the body time to recover physically, mentally and emotionally. However, there are other types of rest as well, which include recreation and creative endeavors. An article from Harvard Health Publishing names “The 7 types of rest and why we need them all.” The article highlights all the different needs we have as human beings, and reminds us that there are many forms of rest and restorative activities that make us healthy and whole.
The seven types of rest that are listed appear deceptively simple, but they consider the entire person. Physical rest is more than sleeping. It can include gentle disciplines like yoga or meditation walks. Mental rest is intentionally putting your tasks, worries, and fears away for a bit, whether that is making a list before bed or journaling your thoughts. The problems will still be there tomorrow, but you can put them away while you rest. Spiritual rest is not only praying, but being intentional in our religious practices and how we conduct ourselves. We can attend a bible study, a meditation group, or volunteer at a food pantry or a shelter. Sensory rest means putting down the phone for a while and not constantly scrolling, or turning off the TV or the radio for a while and appreciating the sound of silence and peace. Creative rest can involve making something or experiencing art, music or nature. Emotional rest for me is finding a safe and appropriate outlet to express your feelings and fears, whether that means confiding in a trustworthy friend or counselor or writing in a journal for yourself. Social rest means engaging with people who add something meaningful to your life. These are encounters that are enjoyable, inspiring and energizing.
For me, rest is part of our daily cycle. But people also need a weekly sabbath. The creation story in the bible from Genesis 2:2 (NIV) records that “2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.” Many early religious practices also supported a time of rest for everything, including the land. In the Jewish tradition, there is a Jubilee year every 50 years to forgive debts and restore balance. Some farming traditions include allowing a field to lie fallow for a year for crop rotation. All living things benefit from rest. Therefore, it is important to take a moment in our busy world to “unplug” from our devices and our preoccupations for as long as it takes, reboot, and begin our work refreshed and renewed again.
