Studies are now showing clearly that gone are the days of burning the candle at both ends. Productive, happy workplaces are filled with people who are energized and ready to take on the day with clarity of mind and a fuelled body. 

So what fuels you? What provides clarity, focus, and energy to your system without peaks and valleys and the need for artificial stimulants? We asked our Atrium wellness experts to answer the question: “Why is rest important?” Read on to find out their take on the value of rest. 

What Does Rest Look Like to You? 

By Atrium Nutrition Expert Debbie O’Neill

“We humans have lost the wisdom of genuinely resting and relaxing. We worry too much. We don’t allow our bodies to heal, and we don’t allow our minds and hearts to heal.” 

Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Buddhist monk

Rest is different to everyone. It can be laying on the couch with your eyes closed or engaging in deep breathing exercises, or even a casual jog around the block. Whatever way you choose to slow down and calm your mind, we need to do more of it.

Let’s face it, our days are hectic and frenzied. We are cramming too much into our days with work, travel, family commitments and study. It seems we subconsciously live by the motto of “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” If we keep going on living like this, then that day may be here sooner than we hope. Should we really be living life like this?

Forgoing rest can have a major impact on your health, especially mental wellbeing. If you don’t have enough rest and your sleep quality is affected, then you might find it hard to make decisions or use your judgement, encounter memory loss, or repeatedly ask the same questions. Cognitive impairment can reduce your ability to perform daily activities while increasing your risks to accidents. Not feeling well-rested affects your concentration and focus, causing you to feel unmotivated, thereby impacting productivity

Being well-rested is a psychological state where you feel refreshed and energized. Incorporating rest into your day can have many health benefits such as improving digestion, lowering blood pressure, lowering stress levels, improving concentration and, therefore, increasing productivity. It can also help reduce anxiety, lessen mood swings and substance abuse. Enjoying regular rest breaks can have a positive effect on sleep quality. Sleeping better allows our body to repair and grow, improves immune system function, regulates blood sugar metabolism and helps with our heart health.

So, schedule in some rest for 5 or 15 mins each day to just breathe deeply, sit in the sun or have a lay down. It’s wallet-friendly and most importantly, your body will thank you for it!