The Power of Pause

Rest if you must

I’m old school when it comes to work ethics. ‘No pain no gain’ and ‘Hard work beats talent’ are my MO. As a result, I’m a goal-oriented striver chasing hard and fun things all the time. Interestingly, I’m a night owl turning into a lark; hence, most of the time, I’m a permanently exhausted pigeon. In short, there’s a lot going on here.

2024 started off with renewed gusto. I excitedly dove into my new job. Additionally, I set some new personal development and fitness goals. Family and personal development time gets juggled between 6am workouts and a 9-5 work routine. There’s no time to think, and before I know it, it’s time to hit the sack. After 6 months, the routine gets monotonous and tiring.

The Pause

It was time for a break! Last month, a bird’s eye view of the snowcapped peaks from the plane greeted us in Queenstown. That was our cue to go into relaxation mode. With giggles of excitement, we headed off to our hotel and then, to pick up our ski rentals. The go-getter in me was ready to conquer the slopes. Despite many falls, I can say we thoroughly enjoyed our time skiing. However, the hard work was telling in our bodies.

Super sore, we were forced to stay in bed pretty much all next day, to recover. The rainy weather meant we weren’t missing much either. Sauna, massages, bath soaks, leisurely dinners, sipping red wine and lounging by the fireplace. This was us for the next few days. Time went both slow and fast. The days were a blur of daylight and twilight skies. It was very different from my daily routine, and it felt great! Having slowed down, I didn’t want to rush to the next thing. I wanted to slow down even more and savor every precious moment. Without interruptions, my mind and body relaxed fully. I didn’t want to leave, but I did and returned with my emotional batteries recharged.

How did life get so frenetic?

Life in the olden days, steeped in agriculture was a mix of toil and simplicity. The work was grueling, hands hardened by the earth, but time moved slower. The days were measured by the sun and rest time decided by nature.

With the start of industrial revolution (18^th & 19^th century), everything changed. The drive for productivity, efficiency and economic growth led to glorification of long work hours. The ‘hustle-culture’ has been very much a part of the 20^th century’s work culture, especially in capitalist societies. People were transformed into cogs of machinery of progress!

Rest is soul food

This grind culture was taking its toll. By the mid 20th century, the rise of wellness culture and self-care industry emerged as a counterbalance. As a society, our focus shifted towards holistic well-being. The wellness industry has blossomed offering everything from day spas to women’s and yoga retreats. That said, rest and self-care needn’t be extensive and expensive. Read on for some self-care hacks for a busy lifestyle.

Quick and dirty Rest hacks –

• Micro-meditation – the breath app on your apple watch? Use it! Doing a 3-minute meditation will reset your mind and bring down your heart-rate. It gives me that pause moment to connect and listen to my body. Check out this link if you want to dive deeper – Micro Meditation Guide: What is It? And How to Do It (innerbalanceaz.com)
• Shower concert therapy – Blast your favorite songs in the shower and sing your heart out. It’s a quick mood booster and a stress reliever. Found out why on this blog – Reflect: a Biofeedback Device for Perfect Relaxation (meetreflect.com)
• Hydration reminder – Drink lots of water and set phone reminders to drink water. Simple!
• Dance between meetings – set a timer for a 2-minute dance breaks between meetings or tasks. Make your moves wild and uncoordinated for extra fun! Check out this Spotify playlist for a danceful of fun – Dance Hits | Spotify Playlist
• Exercise snacking – this a small exercise done in short bursts just like the 3-minute breathing exercise. It gets you moving. And movement release stress and forces you to step away from the screen. Combine this with movement outside for some fresh air and vitamin D. Check out this page for some ideas – Exercise Snacks: 24 Ways to Fit in Tiny Bursts of Activity Throughout the Day | The Health Session
• Humor – keep a book of jokes in your bathroom or kitchen and read one out loud. Laugh out loud too and spread cheer! Check out this hilarious page on dad jokes – 100+ Best Dad Jokes, Ranked by Cringe/Pun Level | Man of Many !
• Furry face time – play with your pet or log onto YouTube and watch some cute and funny pet videos. Check this compilation out for some aww factor – https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wdjpworLSk8?feature=share
• Sunshine – 15 minutes in the sun is great or vitamin D, not to mention a surefire mood booster. Simple!
• Bed-time ritual – Having a bedtime ritual is a great cue for the mind to start slowing down for sleep. a warm shower, soft relaxing music, dim lights, lavender mist spray are things that can make for a relaxing ritual. Check this blog out for some ideas – 40 Relaxing Bedtime Rituals For a Good Night’s Sleep | Notes by Thalia
• Bedtime stretch burrito – Get into bed, wrap yourself in a blanket burrito style and do gentle stretches. https://youtube.com/shorts/d2fCsaOKuTM?si=crKSXYymEqwdO-rr

So rest up! It isn’t just a break from the grind. It’s the fuel that powers your next leap forward!

Thanks for reading!