Embracing rest and challenging all or nothing thinking.

I’m still learning how to rest in a nourishing way. To be honest, it’s scary for me to embrace the concept.

I don’t know why it’s so bad.

It might be age (okay, I’m 32, not 90, but I’m certainly not 20 anymore), lingering effects of a deluge of traumatic events, a still very active grieving process, the new way my anxiety manifests itself OR just being human…but when I am tired these days I am body broken, shove a COVID swab up my nose tired. 

I’m still learning how to rest in a nourishing way. To be honest, it’s scary for me to embrace the concept.

There’s a fine line between taking it easy and my mental health taking a hit from taking it easy. 

At least that’s the story I’ve been telling myself.

The battle sometimes sounds like this:

I NEED to be outside because it's WARM in FEBRUARY and who knows when the sun will be out. 

If I don’t empty the dishwasher, or take the trash out there’s no one else hanging around to do it and I will feel so much worse if I have to start my day tomorrow with dishes in the sink. 

I tend to default to my old standby- all or nothing thinking. 

Photographic evidence that I stopped moving today. I watched Wedding Crashers in it’s entirety for the first time.

In fact, just a few minutes before writing this, I caught myself in a moment of judgment. 

You feel like crap because you did nothing all day. 

Lies, Maggie. Lies. 

You woke up. You made the bed. You fed the dogs. You showered. You did yoga. You meditated. You brainstormed business ideas. You did multiple loads of laundry. You went to the dentist. You made lunch. You went to the store. You repotted two plants. You cooked dinner. You fed the dogs. You cleaned the kitchen. You wrote a newsletter. You changed your sheets. 

You know what else I did? I was a rebel. I watched my SECOND MOVIE since Friday (for reference that’s about how many movies I watch in 6 months) and I did it WHEN THE SUN WAS STILL OUT. 

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I’m discovering rest doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

It’s possible for me to watch a movie and keep the house put together.

It’s possible to lay in the sun outside, instead of raking leaves.

I can rest for an hour and be more productive than if I tried to push through the whole day tired. 

Who would've thought it would be such a challenge to take a break? 

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My journal, Lessons from Nature is now out. You can find it here.

Interested in working with me? Reach out.