I came across this quote over the weekend and couldn't get it out of my head. It was a busy weekend and I didn't get enough sleep, so perhaps it's that that jumped out at me. I've never heard of the book (Brenda Joyce, An Impossible Attraction) it comes from though so don't go running to the bookshop just yet!
But, it made me think. We spend a lot of time being strong and not admitting we are tired. Or we link tiredness with weakness and so we can't admit to ourselves we need to rest. And yet, rest and decent sleep is how our bodies and brains repair and get stronger....we cannot be strong and tired for too long...or it all starts to get too much.
I've experienced this at various points - when in a senior role that involved a lot of international travel and time zone hopping; in the early days of motherhood when I was still trying work out what it all meant; and when I was back at work but still only getting a few snatched hours of sleep....I just reached a point where my body started to rebel - with muscular pain, or with insomnia on top of the sleep disturbance, or with a constant sense of anxiety.
Then I had to stop. Rest. Take care of myself. Make changes to the way life was being lived.
I still don't always get enough sleep, but am learning of the value of rest. It might be meditation, a walk, reading a book, changing my view or allowing a day with the kids to drift by rather than be planned to the utmost.
Early nights a few times a week can make a big difference.
And yes, exercise can help - but exercise that doesn't add to the adrenal overload of a stressed system. Swimming, yoga, Pilates, walking are better than a 10 mile run or an adrenalin fuelled gym session.
What do you do to recharge your batteries? Have you done it lately?
There are some ideas and strategies for rest in the blog post here.
Working with me one to one as your health coach, I can help you develop and implement these strategies, so you can carry on being strong, but build in the moments and pockets of rest you need.
Find out more here. Or book in a 15 minute call and see if I’m the right person to help.