Finding Rest

Netflix binging, social media scrolling, and internet surfing aren’t as restful as we think. I could pull out some statistics but I’ll resort to just telling you from experience. I try to avoid my work with what most consider restful and I end up feeling anxious.

I am learning how to rest and there’s a balance that I just can’t find. I am set on discovering a rest that is productive and rejuvenating. Rest is so crucial for the way that we live and the work that we do. Here at UNC, there is a culture of performance and competition. Everyone is striving to be the best in their classes, clubs, and career plans. There is rarely time to stop and rest. There is only time to improve. There is only time to keep studying. These aren’t bad things but I’m afraid they might be damaging if we don’t find rest.

Rest can be skewed in many directions.

For me, I often miss the mark by avoiding work and procrastinating. I convince myself that if I put the inevitable off and don’t work diligently then I can rest for a little bit before it gets really busy. You know, I’ll just take 30 minutes to scroll through Instagram because it doesn’t require much effort. It will be a good break and then I can finish my project. Before you know it, I’ve spent hours in the same spot and haven’t accomplished anything of significance. This mindset just leaves me feeling overwhelmed and scrambling to handle my responsibilities.

For others, rest might look different. You are so set on accomplishment and performance that you forget rest is necessary. Your idea of rest is making sure that you sleep a few hours each night. You throw a few naps into the mix as well just to survive. You feel pressure to always stay ahead which leaves no time to slow down.

These are the two camps that most people fit into. Either there is a reliance on rest that can quickly turn to laziness, or a complete disregard for the gift that it is. Both of these options are missing the point and cannot provide us the healthy lifestyle we need.

I don’t think rest was meant to be stumbled into the way we fall onto our beds after a long day. Instead, it was expected to be found and implemented as a strategic part of our lives. For me, I have been taking steps to set aside a full day for rest. This means that I give no time to work or school. I solely focus on rest and that usually includes a day full of writing, prayer, sports, time with friends, and deep conversations. These are life-giving activities that fuel the remainder of my week. This focused day of rest gives me greater perspective and motivation to work diligently throughout the week. Finding rest has given me a greater appreciation for hard work and allowed me to perform better in the work that I do.

I want to challenge all of us to plan for rest rather than stumbling upon what our culture has mistaken rest for. We need rest and we need to be healthy. We need to step away from our work and enjoy the simple things of life. Whatever that is for us, it is time to stop piling on anxiety and to release the lie that we must be constantly working to thrive. Effective work, whether it is school, career, or hobby, only comes when rest has the ability to empower it.