.jpg)
Written By: Paul VanderGriendt, Event Management Coordinator Mentorship Session Diary. Entry 26
A brand-new year! Hopefully that means we have all had a chance to rest and recharge. But what does rest really mean to you? These days there are so many things trying to grab our attention that even when we take breaks, our mind is occupied with social media, family conflicts, friends or any number of other thoughts. Giving ourselves time for proper rest is important for allowing our bodies and our minds to perform optimally.
Getting proper sleep is something we sometimes take for granted. Working and grinding until we end up burning the candle at both ends is not helping us to be our absolute best. Setting routines and sometimes forcing ourselves to take time for rest, relaxation and quality sleep allows us to boost creativity, problem-solving, concentration, focus and rejuvenate our minds to optimize our productivity. When we can really “shut off” and relax, we are able to de-clutter our mind and better emotionally process our experiences, regulate our mood and take care of our overall well-being.
Each of us is different and we all need to use the techniques that work in order to build the right habits and find the right balance in our lives. Practical exercises like journaling, intentional breathing, calm music or blackout curtains can make a real difference in achieving proper sleep and feeling refreshed every day. Even when we aren’t sleeping, really taking a break might mean we need to literally “disconnect” from screens and Internet to slow the whirlwind of thoughts, ideas and stresses going around in our head. We should be holding ourselves accountable to not always get caught up in the hustle of everyday and striving to find balance and proper rest in our lifestyles.