How to Take Inventory of Your Rest

start with these 4 questions

 

It’s easy to get caught up in the endless, day-to-day work of anxiety-inducing cycles of producing or parenting or networking or serving.

It’s easy to believe we can’t rest from our work, that we have to push, push, push into the next obligation or we’ll fall behind.

But we have to rest from those cycles long enough to take inventory. If we don’t we might miss God’s best for us, the plan that will bring us ultimate rest from a very demanding world.

Rebekah Lyons | Rhythms of Renewal

In her book, she goes on to share 4 questions we can ask to take inventory of our life:

What’s right?

Name what’s good. Name what’s going well.

What’s wrong?

Name what’s challenging. Name what could be improve.

What’s confused?

What do you need to process? Where do you need clarity?

What’s missing?

Identify your “blind spots”.

Next step: Review your answers. Look for a common theme. Choose an area you might like to focus on.

a similar note:

I think we all can agree sleep is great, but I’m questioning what actually makes us feel “rested” & energized to work well. I recently learned about the 7 types of rest. Intrigued & in good ole’ Brooke fashion. I took some notes.

Take a look & determine what kind of rest you might need. I’ve organized them just so: The type. The description. The action step.

PHYSICAL REST

  • Your body is tired & you need time to recover.

  • Sleep. Nap. Stretch. Breathing exercises. Leisure walk. Relaxing bath. Massage.

MENTAL REST

  • Slow down & give your brain a break.

  • Read a book. Watch a program. Create a safe place to “turn off”. Mindfulness & Meditation.

SENSORY REST

  • Reduce overstimulation.

  • Unplug from technology, screens, noise, light, etc.

CREATIVE REST

  • Create space for the beauty of nature & art.

  • Engage in creativity: art, music, nature, craft, or dance.

EMOTIONAL REST

  • Take time to feel & express your feelings.

  • Learn what refreshes you. Increase self-awareness. Increase self-care. Seek connection.

SOCIAL REST

  • Spend time with positive people who refresh you.

  • Engage in life-giving relationships.

SPIRITUAL REST

  • Return to the Lord. Return to peace.

  • Journal. Pray. Meditate. Read the Bible. Process what is troubling you.

Resources:

  • Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress & Anxiety for a Life of Peace & Purpose by Rebekah Lyons

  • Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity by Saundra Dalton-Smith MD

Live WellBrooke Wiegandsleep, restComment