There’s something to be said for down time and rest

By Allison McKee

It’s almost here. By this time next week, it’ll all be over and no one will know if something got missed.
So far, I’ve discussed breath practices, moving the body, and clear expectations for getting through this crazy time of year with the least amount of stress possible. This week, this last week, let’s touch on the importance of rest and taking breaks.
When deadlines loom it’s easy to try to power through. To keep going until the list is all checked off. But there’s something to be said for breaks and rest periods.
There’s a productivity tool called chunking. It’s when you look at your list of to-dos and chunk them into sections. Completing each section one at a time. It’s good for busy brains to work this way – and it’s great holiday prep strategy too. However, what I want to talk about is the importance of taking a break or intentional rest time between the chunks of tasks rather than pushing task to task.
Look at your remaining list of to-do’s. Group three to five tasks into a chunk. Set the intention to complete those three to five tasks and then prepare to rest or break in between. The length of time you rest or break will depend on your time available of course but a good rule of thumb is 20 to 30 minute minimum.
You can take a walk, have a cup of tea, do some breathing practices, admire your decorations, do a yoga Nidra practice, have a snack, call a friend…whatever feels right, good, and restful to you.
Giving yourself permission to rest during busy times is essential for mental and physical health. And a wonderful addition is that taking rest breaks will enable you to feel more motivated to accomplish the rest of the chunked tasks on your list.
Take care of yourself in these last couple weeks of 2023 and enjoy your holidays.
Allison McKee is a certified fitness and nutrition consultant (individual and group fitness, spin cycle, mind body designations); certified life and executive coach; desire map facilitator; and health and wellness enthusiast.