Just…give it a rest
I saw a post on Instagram the other day about how office workers between Thanksgiving and January 2nd are just, like….“Nah.”
I get it. This is the time of year when I’m constantly torn between “I should be doing things!” and “What if all my clothes were onesie pajamas?"
By December my “rest time” typically involves a couch, avoiding all cognitive efforts while scrolling into the infinite void of the internet abyss, maybe with a side-quest nap. (With dog snuggles, if I’m lucky). It can be a low battery time of year, and thinking of “ways to rest” can feel somehow stressful.
So this seems like a great time to focus on the habit snack of REST - small steps that integrate rest into your day.
First off, if you’re like me here’s a quick reminder - rest is not laziness. You are a human being, and as such, rest isn’t optional, it’s a biological requirement. And good news - you’ve got choices!
Habit Snacks Menu - The Rest Edition
Physical
😴 Sleep - get at least 7-9 hours or take a 20-30 minute nap
💆 Light Movement - Get a massage, stretch or do some light yoga
Mental
📆 Schedule breaks from mentally challenging tasks
🧩 Swap in low-stakes/mindless tasks (I love a puzzle, or weirdly, scanning documents - a fact my husband finds endlessly entertaining!)
Emotional
🗣️ Talk to a friend or therapist
🚫 Say “no” to emotionally taxing activities
📴 Set phone to “Do Not Disturb”
Social
🕰️ Schedule alone time (in my house we call this “Tali Time”)
👯 Spend time with close friends for low-stakes activities
Sensory
🌲 Put your screens away and go for walk
🎵 Turn the TV/Podcast/Audiobook off and listen to music you love…or silence, if you’re feeling frisky!
Creative
🎨 Swap mental creativity with physical - knit, bake, paint, visit a museum, take in a gorgeous view
Spiritual
🐶 Do something that gives you a sense of spirit or connection. (This one is highly personal, and need not be religious. For me, it’s anything that fills me with a sense of awe for something greater than myself - historic ruins do it for me, or a snuggle fest with my dogs. Maybe yours is volunteering, or going to church - there is no right answer!)
Whatever you choose, keep the stakes low - the whole point is to give yourself a break. No perfection, no expectations - just rest. And bonus points if you manage to do so in a fleece onesie!
