I grew up in New York City. Autumn was my favorite season there. I loved the changing colors of the leaves in Washington Square Park, where I was lucky to live. And I was happy to have cooler weather, as Summer in New York City could be brutal, especially without air-conditioning. As I live in Northern California now, I miss the intense changing colors, but if you look carefully, Autumn is still there. 

This time of year in parts of the world, the leaves are changing color and falling. Harvests are wrapping up. Fields will be left fallow. We could all use some fallow (rest) time too. Doing so gives us energy to do what we want and need to do.

Why We Need Rest

Rest is important for our bodies, our brains, and our emotions. It allows for renewal. 

Sleep supports our immune system and allows our bodies to heal and grow. It also gives us energy to use throughout the day. 

We also benefit from down time when we aren’t sleeping. There is so much information and chaos coming at us constantly, and so many of us feel the need to always be productive or doing something. 

Down time allows us to recharge and refresh. And recharging and refreshing boosts our creativity and energy. Recharging and refreshing also helps you to avoid burnout. We think of rest as an extra something we just don’t have time for, but really, it’s essential and helps us to have strength to do what we need to do. 

How to Rest and Recharge

So how do you rest and recharge when life moves so fast and the pressure is on (internally or externally) to stay focused and busy? 

Remember (or find out) how it feels. Do you remember how good it feels to be rested? Think about the last time you felt that way. If you can’t remember, give yourself time to rest and really notice the effect. 

Being “on” all the time can wear you down. I try setting boundaries and also dedicated rest time. My favorite rest activity is walking in nature, noticing the beauty around me. What might you do for rest?

You can choose not to check or respond to messages right away. You can turn off social media or the news (yes I know that’s hard). You can choose times when you do not work. You can make time for friendship or nature or whatever you love. And you can hold those boundaries. 

Recharging doesn’t look the same for everyone. Do you know how you recharge? Here are some ideas:

• Time in nature 
• Take a nap
• Meditate
• Do something with your hands — knit, knead bread, sketch or color
• Do something that works your body but rests your mind, like walking, yoga, dance, or even weeding your garden (one of my favorites)
• Take time to wander instead of rushing
• Spend time with friends
• Cuddle with your dog or cat if you have one. My pup reminds me to play and laugh. After that I feel so much more energetic and calm.

I too have pushed myself to burnout by forgetting to rest, but I have learned that I am much more effective if I take breaks, see friends, and get out in nature. 

Pick a time to take a break, sometime when you don’t schedule anything. See what feels good to do with your down time. If you are used to “doing” all the time, it might feel a little weird to not do. See what happens if you stick with it.

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