Why resting isn’t counterproductive, but actually necessary.
Hustle culture tells you to not stop. F**k hustle culture.
Every time I leave a period of rest, I’m always shocked at how amazing I feel. I’m not sure why I have to keep learning this lesson over and over, but for some reason, when I finally give myself time to take a break, I come back from that respite and feel incredible. My body is ready to take on new tasks, my mind feels a little more alert and productive, my mood is significantly improved. It’s like rest actually helps. Ha, who knew.
And yet, even after each period of rest, I let myself easily forget how important it is. How taking an actual break—let a lone a vacation—will actually benefit me as a person, as a writer, and as a business woman. There’s a reason my most productive seasons are immediately following times of rest, because I gave my body the time to take a break.
I feel like I’m writing this today as a reminder not just for you as a reader, but myself. This week we flew to my in-laws in Iowa, and I’ve been transported into a season of rest for the remainder of the year. I’m spending my days reading on the couch, cooking delicious food, doing puzzles, playing board games, watching holiday movies, and generally letting myself take it easy. And yet, I have to remind myself over-and-over how crucial this time of rest is for my health—even when my brain is screaming at me to get more done. The toxicity of hustle culture has such a hold on me, that sometimes I let it override my need to give my body and mind a break…and it plays out in my work, my relationships, my physical health…the list goes on.
So, as proof to all of us that we really should rest right now, here are some facts of why resting isn’t counterproductive, but actually necessary.
We need rest to recover from any strains that we experience, or illness that we have. Non-rest causes disharmony in motivation, feeling, and action.
Deep rest—like meditation—helps to reduce stress and anxiety in one’s life. Relaxation also helps to lower blood pressure, relieve pain, and improve your immune and cardiovascular systems.
If you’re not giving yourself breaks away, that long-term stress will wreak havoc on your health such as chest pains, digestive issues, headaches, anxiety, and even depression.
As for literal rest, sleep gives your body and brain the opportunity to recover from the day. Without proper sleep (which is defined as 7-9 hours a night for an adult), you’ll not only experience difficulties with handling work and social situations (cranky? frustrated? not able to focus?), but sleep deficiency is also linked to increased risk of developing heart and kidney disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and mental health issues such as depression.
So before you tell yourself that resting is unproductive this holiday season, remind yourself of these facts, and give yourself time to rest and replenish and reinvigorate yourself for the new year ahead.
😴 Losing sleep will affect your positive mood: Or lack of positive mood. A new study published evaluated 50 years of research and found those who aren’t getting enough sleep experienced emotional changes; more specifically a reduced positive mood and increased feelings of anxiety. Researchers also found those who were less rested were more likely to react in particular ways to emotional events compared to those who are well rested. So to tie it back to what I was saying earlier, rest. And sleep.
💊 Should children be taking melatonin? On the topic of sleep, recent studies and research have found that taking too much melatonin can actually result in an overdose, which can be harmful especially for children and adolescents. While melatonin “gummies” can seem helpful for getting a kid to bed—especially if they are riled up by having screen time before sleep—a recent study found that children melatonin overdoses have increased by 530% between 2012 and 2021. An increased number of doctors are questioning whether taking melatonin (especially at a young age) is actually as safe as it is marketed as.
☀️ The 30-30-30 rule…another TikTok scam? There’s another “weight loss solution” making its way around TikTok recently: the 30-30-30 rule. The rule says that you should eat 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking up in the morning, then also complete 30 minutes of low-intensity exercise. This rule comes from a podcaster (not a doctor?) who says this can aid in weight loss and blood sugar control. While there really is nothing wrong with eating protein and working out (those are very good things!) the science behind this claim is lacking, especially since the research is still minimal when it comes to eating breakfast in relation to weight loss.
I feel like this is a future newsletter in the works…
These are some of my favorite treats to make duringAs the holidays!
Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls with Orange Glaze by me! I’ll be making these the morning of Christmas Eve. They are a favorite this time of year!
Bacon Wrapped Dates with Goat Cheese by Pinch of Yum: Another holiday staple, or really a go-to appetizer when I have people over. You only need three ingredients (dates, goat cheese, bacon), but I’m also in the mood to drizzle them with hot honey this year. We’ll see how it goes. 😉
What if your new year was about feeling confident in your body and your eating choices instead of constantly putting yourself down for the sake of “New Year, New You” ?
Why do you want to have a new you? What is a new you to you? It’s thinking about ‘why am I actually doing this’ and what is going to be a better motivator or lifestyle shift where you can create habits that will stick with you life long rather than that month of January.
Emily Maus, RD
Upgrade now to listen to the full podcast interview with Emily about the toxicity of the new year, new you message – and finding a healthier solution in 2024.