Time Management Tip: Rest well
It might seem a bit counter-intuitive to include a tip about rest in a time management series, but I’ve discovered after a recent season of burn-out that the only way to continue doing well the work God has entrusted to us is to take care of ourselves while we’re serving others. When we look at the example of work God gives us at creation, we see that He worked hard for 6 days and called it good, and rested on the 7th day and called it holy. That balance of work and rest is what I mean when I talk about holy hustle. We need both. And we need to acknowledge that resting well doesn’t look the same for everyone.
In the same way that your best time to be productive is at night, while mine is in the morning, the way that your mind and soul feel rested is going to be different as well. A quiet room with candles and beautiful music makes me feel anxious, while a weekend away from my computer picking apples or going to an amusement park with my family makes me feel rested. I love to create memories and refuel by spending time with my people, because I work alone the rest of the week. If you’re around people all the time, you might enjoy the quiet moments of a walk by yourself or a night at home. Whatever that rest looks like for you, make it as much of a priority as your work, keeping in mind that too much work leads to striving and too much rest leads to laziness. Trust God to help you put the appropriate boundaries on both so you can honor Him in your work AND your rest.
Inspiration: “Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” Genesis 2:3
Resource: The Next Right Thing Podcast by Emily P. Freeman
Emily has the most soothing voice of anyone I’ve ever met, which makes her podcast episode on “Become a Soul Minimalist” that much more wonderful. You’ll be inspired as you listen to Emily talk about what it means to declutter our souls, a tool that will help us as we incorporate intentional (but not lazy) rest into our routines.
This is so good and something I crave with respect to valuing the beauty and power in “being still.” Thank you for reiterating what the Holy Spirit has been convicting me to live out daily…to rest my mind, body and soul in HIM. Many blessings to you as you continue to push (work) and preserve (rest)!