Rest: how do you take yours?

Last month, I returned from a beautiful week’s holiday in Croatia. It was superb! The rest, reconnection, relaxation and recuperation were well earned, and long overdue. Do you value rest? How do you take yours?

I am inspired by artist Tricia Hersey’s concept & theory Rest as Resistance, where she says we have a;

“troubled relationship with rest and how to imagine and dream our way to a future where rest is exalted. Our worth does not reside in how much we produce, especially not for a system that exploits and dehumanizes us. Rest, in its simplest form, becomes an act of resistance and a reclaiming of power because it asserts our most basic humanity. We are enough. The systems cannot have us.”

— Tricia Hersey

So for me, regular breaks and holiday travels are how I am resisting. I stand by my claim that as a change-maker and disruptor, it is vitally important to be able to rest when required. Lead by example. Grind culture is all around us, how can we actively resist and change that for the betterment of ourselves?

I’m also inspired by Nicole Cody’s blog, on WHY you need to rest. The main reason being ‘rest is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.’ I also joined a Zoom called recently about Empathy in Leadership. Basically saying that better leaders and therefore better empathy, starts with self awareness.

So then, taking a holiday enables me to recharge and reflect - giving me new insight, awareness and capacity to keep my work (and life) in perspective. Also, there is science behind the regular topping up of Vitamin D for overall health. The UK doesn’t get enough year-round sunlight for optimal health and sunlight actually is a wonder-pill.

This is an important part of my success, taking regular breaks in order to keep me healthy & productive. It’s how I fill my cup back up. Because if I don’t, I’m little use to my clients and I always want to offer the best of me. Keeping my energy in check, filled up and ready to share with others through regular rest and lifestyle factors, is how I look after myself so I can look after others. I place high value on this and see it as part of my leadership. As well, my work would me lead to burnout and who needs that?

Here are some day to day things that I do to rest:

• daily yoga practice/movement or breath work (ultimate fave: Nadi Shodhana): usually as soon as I get out of bed and before my morning coffee

• a daily walk : sometimes a silent stroll around the village block will suffice, sometimes it’s a 5k blast (sometimes there’s a pub involved too…)

• regular gym sessions where I compete with myself and set myself mindful goals, as well as actual weightlifting goals

• regular running : where, because I find it hard (like a real slog), I use all of my concentration trying not to fall over. That = mindful activity!

• occasional group yoga classes

• gratitude practice : at home, at work, and during travels

If you’re thinking, ‘oh right’ or ‘this is all well and good’ or ‘I’m not in a position to do that’; try the small things first. I’m a fan of Dr. Kristin Neff’s research on SELF-COMPASSION. Try some of her exercises here - it might help shed new light.

Further, I do the following to keep my general health tip top (warning, abit of an overshare!):

1) Sleep at least 7 hours a night - there’s science behind that too

2) Regular colon hydrotherapy

3) Take Magnesium Glycinate supplements (along with a few others pending my energy levels - my colon therapist suggested I take NTFactor when I need to - so during busy project periods, before deadlines or in the thick of event delivery… I notice a HUGE DIFFERENCE to my energy levels after taking these). There’s an actual STRESS-MAGNESIUM LOOP thing in science, which you can read more about here

4) Take quarterly blood tests, I use Thriva, so that my health literacy is as a good as can be & I’m in control. It helps me understand myself (literally my biochemistry) abit better.

5) Beauty appointments - because everyone enjoys nice nails, right?

As always, I’d love to chat about this. Open to other suggestions and debate. It’s so important to advocate for health, wellbeing & rest. It’s a different type of leadership and it’s here to stay.

Hmu on Instagram: @amydh15 or let’s email: hello@amydaltonhardy.co.uk