This weekend, I am taking another rest to recover and enjoy the arrival of fall. I always enjoy slowing down this time of year because it gives me more time to rest and enjoy the cooler weather and fall foliage.
A lot of fitness buffs take the fall and winter seasons off from exercise to rest or refocus on other priorities. I have learned that a full life is more than doing the things we are passionate about, it’s also about enjoying new experiences.
This weekend, I’ll attend a free virtual screening for a new movie releasing next month about the life of disabled people including their:
- Struggles
- Rights
- Motivation
As a TBI (traumatic brain injury) survivor, I understand the need to get rest and enough sleep. However, these two aren’t necessarily the same thing. Sleep is a necessary function our bodies and brains need to work properly.
Rest means choosing to slow down or change your daily habits to better enjoy life.
What Is Rest
Many people get the concept of rest wrong in how. Some equate rest with sleep, but that isn’t always the case. Rest is defined as, “A bodily state characterized by minimal functional and metabolic activities: relaxation.”
Rest can simply be taking time to relax and do less stressful activities (watch a movie, read a book, or go for a walk). As the seasonal holidays approach, most of us will go on vacation or slow down to spend time with family and loved ones. Rest does not necessarily mean being lazy or doing nothing at all but changing up your activities.
A change of pace to allow for recovery or renewal is a great example of rest. Writers can experience the many rewards of rest when they take time to step away from their computer or a writing project.
Writer’s Life
A writer’s life may not be as physically demanding as other vocations, but it is mentally and emotionally demanding. Much of a writer’s work happens in the brain, so it is easy to become overwhelmed, stressed, or burned out by the writing process.
Writers should practice self-care by getting rest and sleep to help keep them healthy and productive. An unrested writer can lose creativity, focus, and even energy. Most of us have hit a wall during a writing session and needed to step away from the project for a short period of time to rest and refocus. Below are some benefits of rest for writers:
- Fresh perspective and objectivity
- Productivity
- Enhanced problem-solving
- Burnout prevention
- Long-term motivation
- Relief from writer’s block
- Access to an authentic voice
- Improved overall health
When I take a rest week from the gym and hitting the weights, I shift my focus to spending more time outside (biking or hiking). I’m not being lazy, just adjusting the way I moved to get exercise.
During my last rest week, I experienced a new section of the trail I have been biking for nearly 30 years. Rest brings new opportunities and renewal, which counter the feelings of being burned out or bored.
Renewal
As we age, our bodies and brains become so used to our normal activities. Even entertainment can ]ose its enjoyment. That is also why I prefer to change my workouts up every eight weeks.
Science has shown that learning a new hobby and developing new habits help keep our brains active and healthy as we age. As a brain injury survivor, I need to keep stimulating my brain through reading and learning new things. Sometimes, I just need to change my pace or make adjustments.
Slowing down or changing my pace helps me stay focused and motivated as I navigate living with a disability. It also helps with:
- Detoxing my brain
- Recovery
- Improved memory
- Brain development
That is why I emphasize to everyone, especially my writer friends, that sleep is a function, not a feeling. Many people gauge how much sleep they need by how they feel, and not by its overall function in life.
Don’t kill the messenger, but coffee is not a substitute for sleep. My local YMCA recently expanded to a 24/7 schedule, and too many people obsess about exercise without prioritizing sleep or rest.
Remember that improved performance and a healthy life are two of the rewards of rest and recovery!
Martin Johnson survived a severe car accident with a (T.B.I.) Traumatic brain injury which left him legally blind and partially paralyzed on the left side. He is an award-winning Christian screenwriter who has recently finished his first Christian nonfiction book. Martin has spent the last nine years volunteering as an ambassador and promoter for Promise Keepers ministries. While speaking to local men’s ministries he shares his testimony. He explains The Jesus Paradigm and how following Jesus changes what matters most in our lives. Martin lives in a Georgia and connects with readers at MartinThomasJohnson.com and on Twitter at mtjohnson51.
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