How to Prioritze Rest | Part 1
“Be still and know that I am God…”Psalm 46:10
As a human being that also happens to make a living as a Licensed Professional Counselor, this scripture has so much value to me. For me it is a call to rest. It is a call to rest when our culture is one in which time is money. It is a call to rest when there is a high priority on achievements and performances that are constantly driving our agendas and schedules. It is a call to rest when this unforgiving world places demands on our identities to look a certain way, be a certain kind of person, do life a certain way. So, how do we answer this call to rest, to be still and know that God is who He says He is? Well, I have a few ideas and in this post we will start with the concept of physical rest.
I believe that this passage is referring to the act of being physically still. This takes effort and practice in our particular society and with the demands our world places on us. I personally had to learn how to prioritize rest in my life. This meant that I had to start telling people no and intentionally protecting certain days and times to take care of myself and my needs. This was not easy as I was trying to run my own business and support myself while trying to stay connected to family and friends. The following are two practical tips that I implemented in my life to help me prioritize physical rest in my life:
1. Develop a rest plan, aka self care plan, aka stress management plan
(An example of this can be found on my resource page if you need assistance with a starting point.) Everyone is different. So what is restful for me might not be restful for you. That is normal. Rest is about what puts a smile on your face and is healthy for you. For example, some people love to cook and find it extremely relaxing. That is not me. The thought of cooking for more than myself and I will be honest here, even for myself, begins to create tension through my body and my thoughts start racing…not at all restful for me.
2. Use a calendar
I use a day planner that goes almost everywhere with me, because I need to see a full visual of the month. For other people, the calendar on your phone will work just as well. I know it sounds elementary, but using a calendar will help you see a number of things going on in your life. This shows you what is actually most important to you (work, people, volunteering, traveling, etc…) and if you need to reprioritize what is actually getting the most of your time. Calendars allow you to see what you have already committed to, gives you the ability to say no, as well as, protect time for rest. Rest is a choice and you have the power to change your circumstances. (For an example of a calendar, see my resource page.)
Why It Matters
A few important reasons to physically rest are for your body to have a chance to restore and rejuvenate, for the chemicals and hormones to released causing your body to relax, for you to slow down enough to enjoy the life God has given you on this earth (side note: God rested on the 7th day of creation and He called it GOOD!), and for you to connect to your true thoughts and emotions. (Resting emotionally and mentally will be discussed in my next blog post.)
I want to leave you with a challenge: what is in your life that is creating physical unrest that can actually be removed/transformed when you reprioritize your time and create room for rest?
