Rest

Rest

Some of us learn the hard way about the importance of rest. We need rest! Rest and or sleep is the time when our bodies have the opportunity to repair itself. Our body is designed to repair itself to some extent. We are not only talking about physical rest but mental rest as well. How many of us sleep 8 hours but still wake up feeling like a truck hit us? It’s because we fail to turn our brains off at night. We go to bed thinking about all the things we must do, did not do, don’t know how we are going to do, and worry about the “what ifs” in the event we don’t do. Our brains are constantly set in the “on” position. Self-care is crucial! We always get the briefing on an airplane about putting our oxygen mask on first before we assist others. Rest falls under that category. We all have to do it! Now some claim they only need 4-5 hours of sleep and that may very well be true. 7-8 hours has always been recommended. Regardless of whether it is 4 or 8 hours, we each must figure out what our needs are.

Clarity of the mind is so important. As we continue in this season of information overload, much of it false, we must do everything we can to keep our minds sharp. Sometimes that means “unplugging” from it all and giving our brain a chance to rest. We are in a society where working a ridiculous amount of time is the norm. We are told that we must be on our grind! Constantly doing, working, grinding! At some point our bodies, our minds will collapse. When will we use wisdom and put the brakes on?

I remember an Atlanta Baptist minister saying that we should never get too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired. If we allow ourselves to be overcome by any one of these situations, the result is rarely good. When we are too tired, we cannot make wise decisions. We may find ourselves making decisions in a fog. Decisions that could affect the rest of our lives. When we are too tired, we may find ourselves more vulnerable to anger. What is said or done in a moment of anger, sometimes cannot be undone. Be intentional about your rest!

I am Paula G Voice! I am a sagacious independent lifestyle influencer. I am embracing my own journey and sharing experiences along the way. I am challenging dreamers to do the same by breathing life into their deferred dreams and living out the reality! It is never too late to embrace your journey and live your dreams! Visit Paula’s Blog at www.paulagvoice.com for the full journey.