Active rest
Do you also feel guilty when you take time off?
Do you feel you should be doing something all the time, and that lounging in the sun or in front of the TV means you are a lazy b****?
Because I do.
Maybe because of my ADHD, I can't ever fully relax and do nothing.
So I realised that because my brain is just wired this way, it is OK for me to do something when I'm supposed to be resting (for instance on holiday or in the evening when all my chores/duties have been fulfilled).
In fact, your brain sometimes doesn't need inactivity, it just needs a switch in focus from work to recharge and/or to focus on something physical to give your brain cells a chance to rest.
Whatever "rest" means to you, I don't need to remind you that if you allow yourself regular resting breaks you'll be a lot more productive when you go back to work.
So I invite you to explore active resting to silence your inner critic - if you are anything like me:
- It could be a sport: go for a walk or run, swim, play tennis or whatever you fancy;
- Take a notebook with you and sketch or write what you see;
- Read a book or take a course/learn something new if you usually don't have time for it;
- Declutter your closets;
- Explore your city with new eyes like a tourist.
Holidays don't mean the same for everyone and you are entitled to live them the way you'd like.
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A word of advice there though: avoid endless social media scrolling (that's not as restful as it seems).
What's your favourite way to actively rest?