So here’s the answer. The key to my sanity from then until now will always be…

(Don’t hate me.)

Prioritizing my REST! 

I know. I know. Every mom, entrepreneur, business owner, get-more-done-now-rest-when-I-die types are laughing at me right now. That or the word “rest” may not even be in your vocabulary or if it is you feel like “If I could I would.” 

Hear me out. Because like you, that word honestly made me MAD every time someone suggested I do it because:

A.) I felt like it was such a waste of time.

B.) Even if I wanted to I can’t because there’s too much to do.

C.) Easy for you to say you don’t know what it’s like to be me. 

So believe me, I know what that word triggers in you and to be honest some days it still does. But the days, weeks, months I don’t prioritize REST in some shape or form I am a monster, I am anxious, I’m less productive and feel like I barely make a dent in my ever growing to-do list. And when I’m feeling like this, the one time a day I do rest (late at night) my brain is going 1,000,000 miles per hour and the quality of sleep is HORRIBLE. I wake up even more exhausted than the day before starting the cycle all over again. Therefore I’m not doing my best work even when I am working. 

But sleeping at night is not the only way we “rest” and that’s hardly the type I’m referring to. This type of rest, will have you sleeping well at night too! 

And no I’m not talking about naps either…though I could really go for one of those right about now. 

The type of rest I’m referring to all relates to slowing down…not working… and filling your time with something that will fill you up, energize, encourage, inspire, motivate, restore you. 

The reason why I’m not overwhelmed this year is because I started my wedding season prioritizing my rest schedule before anything else was on my work or family’s schedule. And yes, that means it’s blocked out on my calendar! 

If you’re still not convinced that rest is KEY to a more productive work life and a less stressful, less anxiety ridden mind and personal life check out this study from a professor John Pencavel from Stanford University:

“Productivity per hour decline sharply when a person works more than 50 hours a week. After 55 hours, productivity drops so much that putting in any more hours would be pointless. Those who work up to 70 hours a week are only getting the same amount of work done as those who put in the 55 hours.”

Two books I highly recommend reading that changed my whole outlook on resting have been:

1. John Mark Comer – “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” 

(If you read this one, skip the audio book and get the hard copy, you’ll thank thank me later.)

2. Soojung-Kim Pang – “Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less.”

I’m confident after reading these two books, like me, you’ll be inspired to make a rest a priority and you’ll see all the difference in your productivity. 

I’d love to share the exact ways I choose to rest throughout my day, week, month and year that are simple and easy to implement in a busy lifestyle…

in the next blog post/e-mail! Don’t miss it by Subscribing HERE.

Until then! R-E-S-T!