The Value of Rest

Dear Real Academics,

Do you value rest? Real rest? And by rest, I don't necessarily mean sleeping. 

In An Unhurried Life: Following Jesus' Rhythms of Work and Rest, Alan Fadling challenges readers to reorient their understanding of rest. Though the book is written for church leaders (and I am certainly not one!), I am finding many of its points extremely helpful, including the following ideas with mini-challenges for you to consider:

(1) Rest may function as a precursor to work, and it is arguably necessary for creativity. 
I've read enough books about writing processes and talked to enough people much more creative than myself who would agree. Their most creative work comes after rest. But, here, I must reorient my language. Rest came before their most creative work.

  • I challenge you to reorient your mindset on the timing of rest in relation to work: What would it mean to think about resting as a critical precursor to work: I NEED to rest so I can be energized, productive, and creative in my work/calling? This is a very different mindset from: I NEED to get through this work week so I can have a weekend!

(2) Rest does not just "happen" when you take time off. Rest must be intentional. 
Perhaps you can relate if you've ever taken a weekend or vacation for time "off" and ended up more exhausted than rested. If so...

  • I challenge you to be intentional about your time of rest: What are you doing (or purposefully not doing) to enter a state of rest? Perhaps you need to turn off that cell phone and/or social media. Perhaps you need to not plan a jam-packed vacation, but simply allow yourself to be still, in the moment. This is not and easy challenge, but allowing yourself to truly rest is a gift to yourself (and those around you!).

(3) Rest seems to benefit us when "scheduled" in predictable rhythms.
I'll preface this one with a personal note: I really enjoy history and learning about other cultures (be it through history, literature/art, travel, or friends from different cultures). I probably would have been a happy historian, linguist, anthropologist, or travel guide and writer had I not gone into the education field. 

With that, I find it fascinating that in the Hebrew Old Testament, God set up rhythms of rest for the Israelites as times of Sabbath rest: weekly, monthly, and even yearly. Yes, the seventh year was a year to allow people, land, and animals to rest. 

  • I challenge you to try out a rhythm of rest for the next month. The time of rest doesn't have to be a whole day, but at least a few hours (e.g., Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon). Plan the time of rest (and keep it!), but don't jam pack it with any events and certainly don't use it to browse social media!! Rest. Enjoy some time with your loved ones, a pet, and/or a project or activity that you enjoy. Breathe. Get off screens. Then, see if you are not more energized and ready to do the tasks ahead of you.

If anyone is interested in the book, here is the link:


(paid link)

And, if you like the genre, I would also recommend my currently all-time favorite book on this topic, The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan, written in admirable prose:


(paid link)

Until next time,

Maggie

www.therealacademics.com

“As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.” 

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