How to Get the Rest You’re Craving-Even When You’re Feeling Crunched

Welp. Here we are at the end of another wild year. Smack dab in the middle of the holidays—with their many joys and stresses! And in case you forgot (LOL), we’re heading into year 3 of Pandemic Life. ⁠

⁠I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: IT’S👏🏽 A👏🏽 LOT👏🏽⁠

⁠For anyone who feels like they “should” be doing a better job at life: There is no New Normal. We are ALL struggling.⁠

⁠Which is why you need REST now more than ever.⁠

⁠So how do you carve out space to recharge when life feels overwhelming?⁠ I’ve got some ideas to help you actually unwind over the holiday break:

⁠#1 Be kind to yourself

When I was first learning to rest (and yes, I did have to *learn* how to rest), it felt awful. I was so conditioned to always be working and looking for ways to be productive, that slowing down felt like failure. It felt unsafe. If you’re feeling shades of this, know that’s a normal response to a capitalist, patriarchal system that demands we ignore our needs and earn our rest.⁠

⁠#2 Schedule it

If you love to check things off a to-do list like moi, adding rest time and pleasure to your daily or weekly list can be the push you need to make it happen. ⁠

⁠#3 Go big

A couple weeks ago I treated myself to four nights in a beautiful hotel to sleep, read and be a tourist in my own city. At first I just wanted to keep doing. But once I let go and leaned into rest, it was just what I needed.⁠

⁠#4 Go small

I get it—not everyone has the time or resources for a weekend hotel stay. Don’t underestimate the power of a 10 minute nap. Or even a 10 minute lie-down. (Learned about the power of the lie-down from Caroline Dooner and it’s a game-changer!) Or reading in bed instead of scrolling. Or simply taking a bath. It doesn’t have to be huge to be meaningful.⁠

⁠#5 Acknowledge it’s challenging

You might be feeling like you’re failing because you find it hard to stop working and do something you enjoy or do nothing at all. Nope. It’s hard AF right now. Just knowing that can make it easier.⁠

⁠I see you out there doing the best you can in this bananas time.⁠⁠ And I’m celebrating every single act of self-love & care you give yourself.❤️⁠

Happy Holidays and XO!

Olaiya