Choosing Rest is a Quiet Revolution- Overcoming Burnout

Someone told me recently that it’s a courageous act to rest. This felt like a powerful statement and a healthy reminder in our modern times that demand so much of us.

While this is, in no doubt, a busier time of year for many celebrating the “holidaze” season, it’s also a time that we all need to be reminded that rest is a good thing- and an essential thing, too. In fact, rest can be recognized as a form of quiet revolution.

In our world today, we live within a pace and volume that constantly asks us to do more, achieve more, be more- which can burn out our inner flame. When I get tired, this is where self doubt creeps in or irritation with loved ones- making it more difficult to recover and find peace.

We all know the signs when we’ve pushed ourselves too far. But what about the earlier signs that tug at our hearts and minds to slow down and simply BE. May this be a reminder for us all to stop and listen- listen to our need for rest and to find the courage within to follow our inner knowing.

A few months ago, I participated in an ultimate quest for rest as a participant of a “vision quest” guided by a dear friend and teacher. This practice was a liberation of sorts from the very real pressures of society, running a business, being a mom, etc.. But more than a “break” (as a vision quest of 3 days fasting on the land and praying for the people is not for the faint of heart), I discovered not only my own “rat race” patterning, but the culture of busyness in which I live in.

In fact, I received some powerful “downloads” into what keeps us all striving relentlessly- sometimes guilt or shame of not being enough/doing enough, feelings of fear of disappointing people or letting people down or someone “getting there first” (ie. lack mentality), but also a deep-rooted feeling that we did something wrong and need to fix it/repent in order to be welcomed back into the “tribe”.

These ultimate human conundrums and patterns of under-valuing ourselves cuts us off from our intuitive knowings within our body and keeps us caught in performance mode- ie. “doing” mode- which leads us all to burnout and unrest- only to repeat the same cycle the next day.

The thing is- humans invented the ‘world’ that we live in but we are all beings of this Earth, too and we can always find ways to tune back into nature’s rhythms and cycles to restore our inner flame.

The season of winter invites us all to pause, reflect, and restore. Nature ushers us to take notice as the final leaves drop to the ground—and our compass points us towards the dark black nights and quiet stillness. But yet the mind can relentlessly churn on—even bringing some of us feelings of guilt for resting.

Let this rattling inner voice be a reminder to you of the courage it takes to say no to rate race and remember that REST really is a courageous act. It is an act of rebellion as essential to our humanity as anything else.

Wanting some ways to embrace this season of rest? Consider these gentle guideposts as you head into the next few weeks-

*Honor your energy cycles - allow yourself the time to recharge.

*Increase coziness and revive an overstimulated nervous system by turning off all overhead lighting and replace with ambient lighting such as candles, salt lamps, or low-light lamps.

*Practice Breathwork for a deep rest. Try a calming breath like the 4,7,8 breath to ease into stillness. See guided practice on my YouTube Channel.  

*Release the need for perfection. Rest doesn’t have to be productive. Sometimes, doing nothing is the most restorative thing we can do.

*Lean into community support. Rest doesn’t have to be solitary. Connect with others who also want to honor slow living, and rest together.

And remember- it’s a courageous act to rest- be BRAVE. Join a quiet revolution against burnout culture. Choosing rest matters- join me! Rest well!!

Keeping Quiet, Pablo Neruda

“Now we will count to twelve
and we will all keep still
for once on the face of the earth,
let’s not speak in any language;
let’s stop for a second,
and not move our arms so much.

It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines;
we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness.

Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.

Those who prepare green wars,
wars with gas, wars with fire,
victories with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their brothers
in the shade, doing nothing.

What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity.
Life is what it is about;
I want no truck with death.

If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving,
and for once could do nothing,
perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with death.
Perhaps the earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive.

Now I’ll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.”