Rest is a Strategy (Because Humans Aren’t Run On Batteries)

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." – Anne Lamott 

Food for Thought:

Let's talk about rest—you know, that thing we all claim to want but treat like it's a reward we have to earn. Like somehow we need to complete every task on our to-do list (including the ones we just added) before we're allowed to take a break.

Sound familiar?

We've created a culture where being "busy" is a badge of honor and "I'll sleep when I'm dead" is somehow seen as a productivity strategy rather than a concerning life choice. But here's the plot twist: rest isn't just some luxury spa treatment for your schedule—it's more like essential maintenance for your brain.

Think about it: We wouldn't expect our phones to run forever without charging, our cars to drive without fuel, or our coffee makers to brew without water (the horror!). Yet somehow, we expect our brains to operate at peak performance with minimal downtime.

Why Our Current Approach to Rest Isn't Working

Let's be honest about our rest-resistant behaviors:

• Scrolling through social media while claiming we're "taking a break"
• Working through lunch because eating is apparently optional
• Wearing exhaustion like a merit badge
• Bringing our laptops to bed (and pretending it's not affecting our sleep)

5 Strategic Rest Practices (That Don't Require Moving to a Mountain Retreat)

1. Embrace Micro-Breaks No, checking your email 47 times isn't a break. Try: 5 minutes of literally anything that doesn't involve a screen. Yes, staring out the window counts. No, staring at your window's reflection in your screen doesn't.
2. Schedule Regular Downtime Put it in your calendar. Like, actually block it off. Treat it like a meeting with yourself that you're not allowed to cancel. And no, "downtime" doesn't mean catching up on work emails from 2019.
3. Prioritize Sleep Your brain needs sleep like your coffee maker needs water. Netflix will still be there tomorrow. Those "one more episode" lies aren't fooling anyone.
4. Try "Active Rest" Walking counts. Gentle yoga counts. Scrolling through work emails while on the treadmill doesn't count. (You see the pattern here?)
5. Digital Detox (Even Mini Ones Count) Yes, the world will continue spinning if you don't check Slack for 30 minutes. No, you won't miss out on life-changing LinkedIn updates during your shower. Give your thumb a break from the infinite scroll. It's tired.

A Reality Check for the 'Rest-Resistant'

To the "I'll sleep when I'm dead" crowd: You're actually making that appointment come faster than necessary. To the "but I'm fine running on 4 hours of sleep" folks: No, you're not. Your typo-filled emails are telling a different story.

The Science Behind Strategic Rest

Research shows that regular rest:

• Improves cognitive function
• Enhances creativity
• Reduces stress (shocking, we know)
• Increases productivity

Conclusion: Permission to Rest Granted

Here's your official permission slip to rest. No, you haven't earned it—you already deserve it. Because you're human, not a smartphone running on low battery mode.

This week, try treating rest like it's part of your job (because it is) rather than something you have to negotiate with yourself about.

What's your favorite way to actually rest? Share below—unless you're reading this after 10 PM, in which case, go to bed. This newsletter will still be here tomorrow.

All the best,

Dr. Judy Wright 

Physician, Wellness & Performance Strategist

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