Reflection: In honor of September being Self-Care Awareness Month, I share below an excerpt from, “Can You Sleep Like This? In the Rest of God”.
Response: God knows what He is doing. Herein lies the problem—we can choose to take time off from our day job, but then there may be a host of other tasks on our plates, such as household chores, familial obligations, ministry work, and so on. All of these put a demand on our time, to a point where we still end up not completely shutting off. While all those things still need to be done, unfortunately they still constitute work. It is difficult to completely shut down to a point where we avoid doing much of anything. However, since God ordained rest, to do so must be worth it.
Secular research even emphasizes the benefits of taking a break from all work. The benefits include:
the ability to mentally relax, i.e., to woos-ah.
time to refresh ourselves emotionally.
the opportunity to reflect on what we did, what we need to do, and where we need to go.
focused and attentive time with God without distractions, rambling thoughts, or pressure to get started on work.
to get a good night’s sleep that allows us to physically restore.
Each of these align with benefits scientists specify too. For example, in an article published in INC magazine, credence is given for religions’ principle of rest. “A Day of Rest: 12 Scientific Reasons It Works” by Rhett Power(1) espouses twelve reasons, based on science, that rest works:
Time out reduces stress.
Time out gives you a chance to move.
Completely divesting from your work on a regular basis reduces inflammation and the risk of heart disease.
Getting away from work boosts your immune system.
Speaking of sleep, you’ll do it better during time out of work.
Your active time off adds years to your life.
Taking regular time away from work restores mental energy.
When you take out time for yourself, you’re more creative.
You’re also more productive when you take time out from work.
You’ll focus better at work if you take your weekly rejuvenation time.
Your day off improves your short-term memory.
With regular time away from work, you might even love your job again.
Live exceptionally- in balance, freedom, and rest.™ We need to intentionally seek rest on a regular basis. There will always be things to do and reasons we should not stop working, but ultimately, the benefits to recharge, refresh, and reset always greatly outweigh the costs.