Pillars of Rest

Being a parent, working multiple jobs, fitness, mental health, poor working relationships, type A personality, perfectionism, competitiveness, fatigue, exhaustion, burn out, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), ME, Adrenal Fatigue, Post Viral Fatigue, Fibromyalgia…

….depending on the week or the doctor depends on which diagnosis I may be given. What I do know is amongst other things I’m tired, very tired.

I don’t believe it is as simple as a diagnosis of one disease or situation. What it is, is ill health, the absence of feeling well, with potentially multiple contributing factors that brings us to this diagnosis. But what if something was missed? And then the overthinking and heath anxiety just perpetuates the situation and exhaustion.

I have many tools and processes I have put in place to improve my health which I will cover in my blogs over the next few months. Today I will focus on pillars of rest because such a ‘simple’ tool had a big impact not only on my energy but my mindset too.

Pillars can add strength and beauty to a building. In structural engineering, pillars support heavy loads above them. They often sit under beams or arches on which walls or ceilings rest. A pillar transmits the weight of structures above it to other structures below it through compression.

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Pillars of rest simply put are multiple moments in the day when you pause completely to rest, which will give you “strength and beauty” to get to the end of the day.

However, there are some rules:

• No strain on your body – so relaxed sitting or lying but not sleeping
• No making lists, organising, socialising, or utilising the time to get something done whilst you sit.
• It’s to do absolutely NOTHING!!
• You can may be enjoy a cup of tea or water to help hydrate your body to function well.

…. and thats it!

It is the rest that enables your body to recover and sustain throughout the day.

Choose how long and how often. Find something that suits you! I have even put myself on thinking time just to get a moment – although my then 3 year old did come and sit next to me and say “its ok Mummy, you’re not a bad person, I’m sure it was just a bad choice. I will sit with you.” I must have done something right!

I hope you find your rest however, wherever and from whatever you need it to be. I am interested to hear if you have a mindset shift when this is put into practice. Please share with us and let me know!

Feature image: Library on Congress