Common Myths About Rest

Rest is one of the most important things you can do to take care of your physical, emotional, and mental health. And the practice least utilized by most people!  Why? Maybe it's because they believe a myth about rest, and it is sabotaging their efforts without them even realizing it. Let's talk through a couple common myths about rest so you can identify them and break the cycle of not getting enough rest. 

Myth #1- I Will Get Less Done 

Hands up if you believe you will get less done if you schedule time to rest and relax? So many people do! But, research proves you will get MORE done if you make rest a priority. Here's some interesting statistics about performance, rest, and relaxation from a Huffington Post article, Relax! You'll Be More Productive.

• In a study of nearly 400 employees researchers found that sleeping too little (less than 6 hours a night) was one of the best predictors of burn-out.
•  A Harvard study estimated that sleep deprivation costs American companies $63.2 billion a year in lost productivity.  
• In 2006, the accounting firm Ernst & Young found that for each additional 10 hours of vacation employees took, their year-end performance ratings improved by 8 percent. Frequent vacationers were also significantly less likely to leave the firm.

So, if you want to get more done in less time and avoid burn-out, you will want to squash this myth immediately. It's time to schedule rest and a vacation. Stat. 

Myth #2- I Don't Have Time 

I know you are busy. We are all busy. That doesn't mean you don't have time to rest. Quite the opposite. The busier you are the more important rest should be. In fact, the most successful people in the world manage to get more done in a day than most do in a week or even a month! And they make rest a priority. 

If you are new to scheduling rest in your week you can ease into it. If you can't schedule a full day just have fun and relax, start with an hour. You can steal back peace and restful moments in just 60 quick minutes! Watch your favorite show, take a nap, do something creative, or laugh until your belly hurts. 

What’s at stake if you don’t make the time to pause or rest? Depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, overeating, exhaustion, and other health issues.  

Rest is one of the most important things you can do to take care of your physical, emotional, and mental health. Stop letting the common myths of rest "I will get less done" and "I don't have time" sabotage you! The truth is you will be more productive and avoid burnout if you rest and relax. There is time to rest when you make it a priority!

My challenge to you is to schedule at least a couple hours of rest and relaxation time (24 hours would be ideal!) every week for the next 30 days and see how you feel. I promise you will be amazed at the results. 

with Grace & Grit, 

~Raychel Perman 

P.S. If you need some step-by-step coaching and guidance to make rest a regular part of your life, check out The Art of the P.A.U.S.E Masterclass and course. This digital program will teach you to manage stress so you can live and lead better.