The Art of Rest - Your Own Software Update
Resting might be one of the most neglected and underrated human activities. Often times we need to literally force ourselves to slow down and rest or else life will slow us down.
Why is that? Fear of missing out? The need to get ahead in life? Inability to sit still? The general demands of life? Probably all of the above in some cases.
Like Ferris Bueller says, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.”
Easier said than done sometimes. This requires leaving the crowd. Getting off the train and taking a rest, while the train of busy life continues on. This is you doing you.
Slowing down to speed up.
A lot happens in the background while you rest. It’s like a software update. When the update is taking place, the computer is offline and not usable. Once the update is complete, the computer is more efficient and runs smoother. Same goes for us. We don’t always know what that update is, but we’re always growing and healing, and so rest, recalibration and integration is crucial.
Rest is also a form of trusting the process of life. It’s your way of saying, I value myself and I trust life and so I’m going to rest and allow this software update to take place with ease. Guilt-free!
So as dudes, providers and protectors, how do we find time to rest?
We make time.
It’s a conscious decision to put yourself first.
- Prioritize your sleep. Take a soothing Evening Wind Down shower, stretch, take magnesium, etc.
- Take naps. Whenever you can get a nap in, do it.
- Slow down and do nothing for a while.
- Be present in life. Living in the past and future is exhausting. Live in the present to conserve energy.
The more you embrace it without the FOMO and guilt, the more restorative your rest will be and the faster you’ll be back out there crushing it more efficiently!
So go offline. Get some rest. You deserve it.
And once your software update is complete, we’ll see you out there, dude!
JR // Creator of Self-Care For Dudes
