Rest and Work: A match made in heaven

“If you want to win at anything, ignore rest entirely,” said no one, ever. 

Although isn’t that what the niggling voice at the back of our mind is saying when we force ourselves to keep working despite the fact that we’re exhausted?

Or isn’t this what we’re led to believe when we’re force-fed stories of hustle culture on social media by the likes of Kim Kardashian whose most sage business advice to us is, “Get your f*cking ass up and work.”

As a leader, it can be easy to prioritise work over everything else. After all, isn't success all about pushing yourself to the limit and working harder than everyone else? Ummm, it’s a hard no from us on this one. This mentality can be extremely harmful, not only to your own wellbeing but to that of your team as well. 

In reality, work and rest are partners.They go hand-in-hand.

Don’t believe me? How about this: There isn’t a single olympian, athlete or professional sporting coach in the world that would tell you that ignoring rest is a good strategy for winning. So why do we ignore it at work? 

In this article, we'll explore why wellbeing and rest are crucial for work and share some strategies for how leaders can incorporate rest into their day-to-day lives.

Strategy 1: Understand the Different Types of Rest

Rest comes in many forms, and it's important to understand the different types so that you can prioritise the ones that will benefit you the most. There are physical rest, mental rest, emotional rest, sensory rest, and creative rest. Physical rest involves giving your body a break from physical activity, while mental rest means taking a break from mentally demanding tasks. Emotional rest involves allowing yourself to feel and process your emotions without judgement or guilt, while sensory rest involves reducing sensory input to give your brain a break. Finally, creative rest involves engaging in activities that stimulate your creativity and imagination. So rest isn’t just about lying horizontally, it can also be active and include walking, dancing, exercising and having lots of fun.

Strategy 2: Keep an Energy Diary to Learn Your Triggers

Keeping an energy diary can be a helpful way to identify what activities drain your energy and what activities boost it. On a daily or weekly basis, take note of how you feel after different types of activities, as well as the time of day when you feel most energised. This information can help you schedule your day more effectively and prioritise activities that boost your energy and wellbeing.

Strategy 3: Start Small with Daily Micro-Commitments

It can be challenging to incorporate rest into your busy schedule, but starting small can make a big difference. Commit to taking a five-minute break every hour or doing a 10-minute meditation before bed. Small daily commitments can add up and make a significant impact on your overall wellbeing in the long term.

Strategy 4: Book Rest into Your Calendar

Just as you schedule important meetings and deadlines, schedule time for rest in your calendar. This can be anything from taking a yoga class to scheduling a weekend away. By scheduling rest into your calendar, you prioritise it as a necessary part of your day-to-day life. But for this to work, it’s crucial that you view your rest bookings just as highly as your client meetings. To make this work across the company, leaders need to role model this behaviour and encourage their people to do the same - this means respecting other people’s rest meetings and not sending invites because it suits your busy schedule.

Strategy 5: Create Your Own Rest Rituals Manual

Finally, consider creating a manual of rest rituals that work for you. This could include activities like taking a bubble bath, going for a walk in nature, or reading a book. Having a list of restful activities at your disposal can make it easier to incorporate rest into your day-to-day life and ensure that you're prioritising your wellbeing. Whenever you feel like your wellbeing is waning, take a look at your rest manual and pick an activity that can rejuvenate you. 

In today's fast-paced work environment, it can be so easy to fall into the trap of prioritising work over everything else. Even for those of us who are trying to advocate for better wellbeing at work. But research has shown time and again that prioritising rest and wellbeing can actually lead to improved productivity and success in the long run. By incorporating strategies like understanding the different types of rest, keeping an energy diary, starting small with daily commitments, booking rest into your calendar, and creating a rest rituals manual, leaders can prioritise their wellbeing and energy, leading to improved performance and overall success. Remember, work and rest are partners, not enemies.

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