10 Ways to Find Rest When You Have a Lot of Sh!t Going On
As humans living in a capitalistic society, it's pretty natural and normal for us to have an ‘all or nothing’ mindset when it comes to adapting a new habit.
I'm here to say that when we can live in the gray, there is freedom to be found.
You might be here because you’re overwhelmed. You care for other humans, big or small, in your life and you have a lot of sh!t going on.
Some days feel better than others, right? You aren’t alone there.
Well, on those days that you feel really tired but feel like you can't slow down - Here are some ideas to try to get you that rest anyways.
Walk slower wherever you're going. Maybe it’s to work, maybe it’s to pick your babe up from school. Leave five minutes early if you need to in order to feel like you can go slower. As you take slower steps, give yourself a little love that you’re doing a great job.
Eat your food intentionally and count your bites. This isn’t a thing to lose weight, it’s just to bring some presence and space into your day. Ideally this happens without your face in front of a screen ;)
Lay on the couch and let your kid play Doctor. They get to play, you get to rest. I think you get this one.
Turn your camera off for your next meeting and lay on the ground during it. And no, you don't owe anyone an explanation as to why your camera is off.
Go to bed by 10p.m. even though there's a million things to do. You'll be more rested and have more energy for tomorrow. I also promise you that the world will continue to turn if you don't fold that basket of laundry.
Surrender to the suck. Take your energy back and instead of fighting what should be, be with what is and how hard it is. Tears might flow for this one and that's okay, too.
Take a deep breath right now. Set a timer once a day on your phone if you want to and write it on your to-do list everyday. Inhale all the way from your toes, filling up your belly and exhale with compassion for yourself.
Skip your intense workout and go for a walk instead. Bonus points if it's outside. We aren't machines (check out the article I wrote on that over here). Maybe you feel like you should be pushing through but creating more cortisol in your body isn't always the way to go. You know your body best.
Ask a friend or neighbor to do a kid swap with you. If it’s available to you, don’t be afraid to send a text and see what the possibility is. You send your kids to their house for an hour so you can rest and then you repay the favor next weekend.
Reach out for support. That can mean a therapist or working with a coach like me. It could also mean calling a friend & saying that you're really tired. Even just voicing how we are actually feeling - in a world where we're all ‘fine’ - can be really freeing.
Ok here’s a bonus: Do a Yoga Nidra meditation. Google one that’s under twenty minutes and enjoy. It’s like taking a nap when you didn’t actually. Score!
If you've been with me for a while here, you know I suggest starting with one or two of these at a time. Going all out is when we crash and burn and that’s not sustainable.
I hope you can see that rest doesn't have to be a big commitment. Let it be small. Let it be easy. Let it be impactful.
Hey, I’m Caitlin! I’m a certified health coach and life coach and I’m here to bring sustainable change into your day so that you have the time and energy you need for the things that matter most.
Want more support? Check out my other posts, learn more about coaching here or book a call with me here. You can always sign up for my newsletter, below, to receive these posts straight to your inbox, too!