If you’ve been through hard times, health issues, depression, or feel like you don’t have the energy to tackle your day like others do, then you know this. The workload feels overwhelming, and halfway through the day your focus drops, you get irritated, and you’re everything but productive. I’ve been there too. Many times…
Coffee won’t solve this problem, and at times, any kind of rest or break feels like avoidance. In the end, you’re not being productive or even motivated to do anything.
Creating Calm: Finding Rest in the Midday Rush
Changing Your Relationship with Productivity and Rest
Let’s be honest. This usually happens when you haven’t adjusted to your life and your body’s needs at that moment.
In our society, we are told that productivity is a top-tier skill everyone should automatically master. It’s expected to give 110% no matter where in life you are right now. Slack is only given to a few for the shortest possible amount of time.
It’s time for you to reclaim your birthright of being happy, healthy, and safe. The only way you will regain strength and be productive is by looking after yourself.
Typically you will read tips like:
- Getting enough sleep
- Eating healthy
- Exercising
- Cutting down social media
- Working on your time management
Real-Life Balance: Strategic Rest in a Busy Life
All of these are true and non-negotiable, but what most people won’t tell you is that you have to change your attitude towards yourself and rethink your work/rest balance. Everyone’s day has 24 hours; we all need time to sleep and recreational time while awake. Of course, you’ve already heard this.
Now, how can we apply this to our everyday lives and individual situations?
The secret is to intentionally block time to counter your workload.
Intentional Unproductivity
I’m a single mom of three — always busy, always working on something, always some drama to handle, some appointments to attend, and a to-do list to fill every minute of my day. My schedules and routines needed to be reinvented many times over the years. What I learned during one of the hardest periods of my life was that I had to take my personal well-being seriously and make sure I would bring it back to balance, right then and there.
When my father got diagnosed with cancer and was hospitalized, I would check on him every day. This meant waking my kids on time and getting them to daycare earlier. I wanted to avoid heavy traffic. Parking at the hospital was another stressor. During certain hours it would be close to impossible to find a free spot and avoid 30-minute long walks. By 2pm the kids had to be picked up; with all the driving, my mornings literally got eaten up checking in with my dad. Not to mention the emotional load and stress.
To balance my well-being, I started getting strategic. I would drive into that one parking garage that always had free spots on the top floors, take a walk around the building, where there happened to be a beautiful park. On my way back, I’d get a coffee and sit there for about 10 minutes — just listening to music and enjoying nature. Intentionally being unproductive to bring calm.
During covid, when I had to leave the house to go shopping or drop the kids off at school, I would park the car in the fields or near the woods and take a 30-minute walk. No work, no worries, no second thoughts. I wanted to be intentionally unproductive before going back home.
You are Worth it! Simple Steps to Sneak in Rest
Today, I plan something fun or relaxing after overwhelming tasks. I learned traffic drains me. If I have to go on a long drive, I’ll make sure to keep my schedule free once I’m back. I’ll take a stop at a park and go for a walk along the lake — anything that’s on my way and easy to reach.
During work, it might be a 10-minute break: walk into another room, do some stretching, step outside, get hydrated, or have a snack. If absolutely necessary, close your eyes or nap when you have the privacy to do so. Intentionally do nothing!
How can you escape to give yourself those 10–30 minutes of rest in your busy day? Don’t overthink it. What’s the first thing that comes to your mind that you can try out today?
You are worth it!
