For someone who is supposed to be resting, my mind is surprisingly busy.
Every day I wake up feeling a little better than the day before. The pain has eased. I have a little more energy. I can walk a little further around the house. And almost immediately my brain says, "Great... let's get back to work." My body, however, has a different opinion. After a short walk or a couple of hours at the computer, I'm reminded that healing doesn't happen on my schedule. Apparently, my body didn't get the memo.
Somewhere Along the Way We Forgot
This experience has made me wonder whether we've forgotten how to rest. Not just physically. Mentally. Emotionally. Even spiritually. Somewhere along the way we started believing that being busy meant we were productive, and being productive meant we were valuable. If we're sitting still, we feel guilty. If we're not crossing something off a list, we feel like we're wasting time. I'm as guilty of this as anyone.
But Isn't Watching Netflix Rest?
Sometimes. Sometimes not. I've realised there's a difference between distraction and restoration. You can spend three hours watching television while scrolling on your phone, replying to messages and thinking about tomorrow's to-do list. Your body may be sitting still. Your nervous system isn't. The same can be true when reading a book. Sometimes reading settles the mind beautifully. Other times you're reading the same paragraph three times because your thoughts are somewhere else entirely. Real rest isn't simply about what we're doing. It's about what our mind and body are experiencing.
Recovery Doesn't Like Being Rushed
The hospital doctor warned me that even after the infection had settled, it would take time to feel well again. I nodded. I understood. Or at least I thought I did. What I didn't expect was the tug-of-war between my body and my mind. My body says, "Slow down." My mind says, "You're wasting time." It's an interesting conversation. Unfortunately, my body usually wins. And perhaps that's exactly what it should do.
Maybe We've Been Measuring Success the Wrong Way
We're taught to celebrate doing more. Working harder. Being busier. Pushing through. But perhaps there are seasons in life when success looks completely different. Maybe success is listening when your body whispers before it has to shout. Maybe recovery isn't something we fit into our lives. Maybe, for a little while, recovery is our life.
A Lesson I'm Still Learning
This has been one of the hardest lessons for me. Not because I don't know it's important. But because slowing down feels unfamiliar. It almost feels... uncomfortable. Yet every day I ignore what my body is telling me, it gently reminds me who's actually in charge. I'm slowly learning that rest isn't laziness. It's part of healing. It's part of health. And perhaps it's something many of us need to relearn.
I'd love to hear your thoughts. Do you find it easy to truly rest? Or does your mind keep telling you that you should be doing something more productive?
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