Thoughts on Rest and Play (and Why You Need It)
Dress: Kate Spade (other options here) // Earrings: Amazon // Necklace: Park Lane Jewelry // Lipstick: Younique in Wealthy
Location: College Station, TX
I spent the weekend resting, relaxing, and playing. The past month of my life was a whirlwind. My role at my job changed, a trip mid-month for a work conference in Vegas took place, and then when I returned it was a non-stop follow up from the trip. I worked twelve days straight without taking even an evening to myself. It was absolutely necessary, but at the beginning of last week, I started to feel really heavy. I dreaded Monday morning and felt like I had zero time to decompress. That was it for me. I knew it was time to take a break. It was suggested I take a full day off and just do what makes me happy, so I did just that. It can be a HUGE challenge to work full-time and run a blog and a business on social media. Although I’ve been doing all three for years, this month was particularly tough. I struggled to bounce back with energy. One thing I have learned about life is that I am the only one responsible for my life. If I want to live a life with clarity and calm I have to create that environment. I also know that I am prone to maxing myself out. Here are a few things I’ve learned about the necessity of rest and play.
Why rest is important
After much research and therapy, stress impacts the nervous system. You have two parts to your nervous system - the first is the sympathetic nervous system. This is your fight-or-flight response to stress. Your body will release adrenaline and cortisol so you can take charge of a threatening situation. Once you get to safety, your body will use the parasympathetic nervous system to release serotonin and help you process, rest and relax. Your body needs to be able to sit most of the time in a parasympathetic state and only activate fight-or-flight on occasion. The problem with people who have had trauma, undergone addiction or abuse oftentimes have trouble activating their resting state. They live all day long in fight-or-flight. Over time this can lead to panic attacks and even panic disorder. I am one of those people! I had about a decade filled with a series of really tough situations one after another. Over time, my body got used to being on alert! It created lasting tension in my neck, shoulders, and back. Now, if I don’t balance my daily life with extra rest I become extremely overwhelmed.
What’s This Talk About Play?
To be able to experience joy and peace you have to be able to activate your parasympathetic nervous system. That begins with being able to do things you love otherwise known as play. Being able to not attach yourself to results when you play actually allows the body to release dopamine. Another ‘feel good’ brain chemical. A lot of people who go through depression have a lack of dopamine. Being able to rest and play gives your body what it needs to feel peace. So what does play look like for me? Starts with spending time with my kid and dog. We went to the playground this weekend and played on the swings. It was a blast. A total release from my normal day. Another thing I did was spend time in nature and photography. I love photography. I take tons of pictures on a daily basis of everything I find beautiful. I love editing the photographs and it brings me satisfaction to see it all go from an image in my head to something I can publish. Photography never feels like work for me.
Putting a Plan Into Action
Start by making a list of activities you find relaxing. If you are interested in puzzles, painting or journaling - do it. If organizing helps you clear your mind - do it. There is no right or wrong answer to what makes you feel like playing. I find journaling helps me with emotions, gratitude, and being aware of what’s going on in my life. Once you decide when you will rest or play and how it’s a good idea to communicate with a few family members around you. Let them know you are taking a few days and may not be as responsive. There’s nothing to worry about, you just need downtime. Expecting others to read your mind isn’t going to happen. People are intricate and it’s hard to know exactly what another human is thinking. Communicate your needs but you’ll also have to be the reminder if someone forgets. If rest isn’t your usual state, your family and close friends won’t expect that you are actually doing that. You may need to spend some time alone if possible to refill your cup and there’s nothing wrong with that. You do you so you can help others!
Whether you are looking to take a few minutes each day or take off for a whole week make sure you give your body, mind and soul the downtime it needs to help you feel more joyful. Life is hard. It doesn’t really ever get easy, but as we practice rest and play we can better ourselves and our lives so we can be more giving to those we love! I’d love to hear what you do to both rest and play? Leave me a comment or connect with me on Instagram!
