Rest. Relax. Renew.

Sometimes, in the midst of life when you're busy as can be, your body gives you a reminder that you need to slow down. That you need a break. That you just can't go another moment without rest. 

That happened to me on Saturday. I tend to push, push, push until I am physically and mentally exhausted. And yes, I know. This is silly. And I shouldn't do that. But it's not in my nature to NOT do that. 

So Saturday. I had every intention of waking up and going to the gym to workout. Had even gotten up, gotten dressed, fed Gizmo. And then my body said a big, fat NOPE. I started feeling a little overheated and lightheaded and I couldn't get my bearings. Started feeling a little nauseous and all I wanted to do was lie down. 

So after trying to get myself together so I could go to the gym (ha), I ended up throwing up (super fun times) and laid in bed all day long. I don't think I got up and started moving around until 4p.m. Needless to say, I guess my body decided I needed a rest day. 

It got me thinking though. How often do you take a rest day? A 100%, do nothing rest day? 

​And before you start yelling at me about not having time to take a full day of rest, just stop a second and really think about it. I'm not saying to do this once a month or even every other month. But take a moment...when was the last time you actually took a full rest day? 

I can tell you that I honestly don't remember the last time, before Saturday, that I took a day to completely rest. No work, no running around trying to get things done, just resting, relaxing, renewing. And I know that's a bad thing...and probably why my body just shut down.

I have a bad habit of not taking time off, because I feel as if you aren't working or doing something that it means you won't reach your goals. Which is the complete opposite, by the way. Because when I have big plans for a day and my body decides to shut down, well...that doesn't make for a very productive or fun day. And I get to spend the next day playing catch up like whoa.

What this tells me is that I need to start planning in rest days...or at least a couple hours a week to rest. Where I don't work. I'm not rushing around from one thing to the next. Where I allow myself time to relax, to rest, to shut down. Because at least then, it won't completely knock me off my feet for a day (or longer).

How could taking a couple hours a week to "shut down," to rest, to let everything go, help you better manage your week? I know this would help me de-stress, let loose, and most likely let my creative juices flow. 

Not only did I have a full day on Saturday where I did absolutely nothing...I mean, solely because my body shut down on me, but I also took a few hours on Sunday to go to the Adventure Park with a bunch of people from my crossfit gym. And....I left my phone in my car!!! WHAT?!

It was so nice to be fully present with everyone, to enjoy my time away from everything, and to just have a darn good time. Oh, and of course, to not feel sick anymore. 

So my new goal is to take a few hours a week, at the least, to rest, relax, and renew. To be away from my phone for awhile. To shut everything out and just BE. 

How about you? 

I hope you all have a beautiful week! Happy Monday! 

With love and wellness, 
Whitney