Something new I’ve been trying...
It's had a profound impact on my art!
For the first time in years, I took a day off. With my phone and laptop switched off for a full day, I fought every urge to be productive. Every second was uncomfortable, but restorative.
“I feel human again.”
Those were my first words upon waking after my rest day. My head felt clear and free from anxiety. That day of downtime gave me a mental boost that stayed with me all week.
I took another rest day the next week and again the next. I’m trying to work in one full day a week1. Down time is still hard, but I’m slowly relearning how to rest by reframing it as a necessity, rather than a reward.
We all know rest is a non-negotiable for all living creatures. So why is it so hard?
“As a culture, we don’t know how to rest, and our understanding of rest has been influenced by the toxicity of grind culture,” The Nap Ministry founder and author Tricia Hersey explains in Rest as Resistance. “We believe rest is a luxury, privilege, and an extra treat we can give to ourselves after suffering from exhaustion and sleep deprivation. Rest isn’t a luxury, but an absolute necessity if we’re going to survive and thrive. Rest isn’t an afterthought, but a basic part of being human.”
Tricia Hersey’s words inspired me to reimagine rest. I made a list of activities to fill my rest day, so there was no question about how I’d spend my time.
My first rest day I:
finished two library books
practiced yoga
listened to a guided meditation
walked Charles
went to a bookstore
💬 Let’s talk about making rest more accessible
How do you work rest into your busiest days? How often do you do it?
Which activities are on your rest list? How do they feed your creativity?
What does your perfect rest day look like?