When you think of the word Rest, what comes to mind?
So much of what we get from society about resting well equates with sleeping. You can find tons of books, articles and videos on how to get a better night's sleep.
Don't get me wrong, sleeping well at night and even taking naps is something I know is proven to be imperative to our well being, but I also think there is more to actually resting well.
I believe resting well goes deeper than the physical, down to our souls being rested. The spiritual, emotional rest that we tend to not think about as much or that we think can be remedied with just a good night's sleep or a nap.
Sometimes figuring this out takes some thinking outside the box. What does your day typically look like? What are things that make you tired, anxious or irritable? Are those things something that you can get rid of, or is it something/someone you have to navigate how to deal with?
It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone reading this, that I'd first ask how is your prayer life? Also, do you know how to sit and be still? I don't think you can successfully have soul rest without these. Some things about our days aren't that hard to figure out. If you're around people all day and/or are constantly in "go" mode then try adding some quiet to your day.
If you're stuck in an office, warehouse, school, etc. then find some time to get outside even for a few minutes. How often do we miss how pretty the sky is or how nice it is to hear birds chirping?
I think a main key to resting well is peace, and so how will you get it? What do you need to do in order to rest well?