In our fast-paced world of education, "busy" has become the mantra many of us march to. We chase deadlines, juggle responsibilities, and cram every waking moment with activity. In the bustle of our lives, rest often takes a backseat. It's crucial to recognise that rest isn't merely a break, parlay or an absence of activity. It's an integral part of our wellbeing, a time for our bodies and minds to pause, power down and prime.
In this blog post, I continue my series inspired by the work of Amy Green and Daniela Falecki. Its aim is to spark a conversation and encourage a shift towards a healthier and more balanced approach to life, one that embraces the significance of rest for optimal mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. As I am already on my break and preparing for my new leadership role, I have not referenced this piece. It is a reflection of the lessons I have begun to learn, routines I have begun to practice, analogies that have helped me appreciate the capacity I have and actions that have made a difference in my life. It will also be the last of the Stay the Course collection for 2023 as such I would like to wish all of my readers the blessing for the coming season.
As Australia gears up for its Christmas holidays, many of us are on the verge of needing a rest, if we haven't reached that point already. With the new year fast approaching, failing to prioritise a moment to recharge and reset can make it challenging to perform at our peak performance.
Imagine our lives as a symphony, the busyness is the lively, energetic melody, while rest forms the vital pauses, allowing the music to breathe and the notes to resonate more profoundly. Without those rests, the symphony loses its beauty, its depth.
Rest isn't just about physical relaxation; it's about mental rejuvenation too. It's the quiet moments that allow our minds to wander, to daydream, to make unexpected connections, and to foster creativity. When we allow ourselves this mental space, we often find solutions to problems we've been wrestling with or discover fresh perspectives.
It can take the form of both an active and passive process of rejuvenation that fuels our bodies, minds, and spirits. It's about taking a deep breath, stepping off the hamster wheel, and allowing ourselves to recharge.
It's the time we take to nurture our relationships, connect with ourselves, and find comfort in activities that bring us joy and fulfillment. It's when we replenish our emotional reserves and find the strength to face life's challenges.
In essence, rest isn't a luxury; it's a necessity. It's the invisible thread woven into the fabric of success and fulfillment. By embracing rest as an integral part of our lives, we're not just recharging; we're cultivating a foundation for sustained energy, resilience, and creativity.
Think of it like a battery. We can't keep pushing our limits without reconnecting to the power source otherwise we would be like an EV out of charge. Obviously as a result, it's not travelling far at all over the Christmas break and not fulfilling its purpose or potential. When we rest, we allow our internal systems to repair, our creativity to spark anew, and our passion to reignite.
Active Rest
Beyond the Netflix marathons, guilt-ridden sleep-ins or simply napping. Active rest is about injecting joy and intention into our downtime. It's intentional disengagement from our usual routines. It's a vibrant symphony of activities that rekindle our inner spark and replenish our soul's reserves. By actively engaging in activities that bring us joy and peace, we nourish our psyche and spirit while replenishing our bodies energy reserves.
Imagine walking barefoot on fresh, cool grass in the morning while feeling a gentle breeze on your skin. It's not just exercise; it's like nature's own music, calming you down with every sound of rustling leaves and bird chirp. Or think about painting, where each touch of colour on the canvas is like your creativity coming to life. Doing something you love isn't just a task; it's finding happiness in creating, feeling focused, and calming your busy mind.
Active rest isn't just something you can do alone. It's also about enjoying good times with people you care about. Laughing together, playing games, or having deep chats over a cup of tea, coffee or other beverage can make a big difference. It's like a powerful potion that helps us feel better. When we're surrounded by those we love, it's like the sun shining and making worries disappear. These moments remind us that we're not alone in this world. Instead, we're all connected, like different threads making a beautiful pattern together.
Passive Rest
This is the silent hero of rejuvenation, the unsung champion that works behind the scenes to restore energy and vigour. This is where we press pause on the external world and allow our internal systems to do what they do best, repair and recharge. Think of it like hitting the reset button on your mind and body.
Imagine sinking into a deep, dreamless sleep, your muscles unclenching, your worries dissolving like mist. That's the magic of quality rest. Our bodies use this precious time to rebuild tissues, regulate hormones, and clear the cobwebs from our brains. It's the ultimate internal wellness treatment, leaving us feeling refreshed, revitalised, and ready to tackle anything the next day throws our way.
Sleep isn't the only gateway to passive rest. A digital detox, ditching your phone and stepping away from the blue light's hypnotic glow, can do wonders for your mental well-being. Imagine savouring a cup of tea without the urge to check notifications, or losing yourself in a book without the digital world clamouring for your attention. It's a delicious mental vacation, quieting the inner chatter and restoring a sense of calm.
Even a few minutes of daily prayer or meditation can work wonders. Picture closing your eyes, focusing on your breath, and letting go of every thought that arises. It's like giving your mind a mini massage, easing tension and promoting a sense of inner peace.
By immersing ourselves in an environment devoid of external stimuli like light, sound, or tactile sensations, we can experience significant relaxation and mental clarity. This sensory deprivation intentionally allows our brains to enter a state of deep relaxation, reducing input to the bare minimum and thereby alleviating stress and anxiety. I have found this practice can enhance my creativity and problem-solving abilities as I can explore new thoughts and perspectives.
Passive rest might seem like doing nothing, but it's actually the most powerful "something" we can do for ourselves. It's the quiet, behind-the-scenes self-care work that lays the foundation for a vibrant, resilient life. Passive rest creates the space for deep tissue repair and mental decompression. A quality night's sleep, a digital detox, sensory deprivation or even a few minutes of prayer or meditation can do wonders for resetting our internal clock and restoring our physical and emotional balance.
Rest Builds Passion
Imagine you're a candle burning at both ends, struggling with work and feeling less and less excited about what you do. That's what happens when we forget to take a breather.
Here's the thing, rest isn't just a reward for working hard. It's like giving your mind and body a refill, making that dwindling spark inside you shine brightly again. When we take enough time to rest, that small flame grows into a big, strong fire. We don't approach our tasks tired and fed up, but with a presence of mind and a fresh eagerness to learn, create, and make a difference. Rest isn't just a break; it's the secret sauce that helps us find the passion that drives us to do great things.
When we're constantly depleted, our enthusiasm dwindles. But sufficient rest allows our inner fire to rekindle. We approach our work with fresh eyes, renewed focus, and a surge of creativity. We're no longer just going through the motions; we're driven by a genuine desire to learn, grow, and contribute.
Accountability and Acknowledging Boundaries
Many educational leaders think that working super hard is the best way to get things done in schools. But when educators are pushed too much, it doesn't always go well. It's like when you squeeze a flower too tight, you might get a little of what you want, but the flower doesn't do well. Instead, if you take care of the flower by giving it water and sunlight, it grows beautifully with lots of colours. That's what happens when you trust your team and empower them to thrive.
For schools and teachers, respecting the time staff have and making sure they have a good balance between work and life is really important. We can do this by promoting trust in teams by holding the understanding that they will do their job to a high personal standard. It is also important to set clear norms around work hours and how we can help them take care of themselves.
When the expectations are clear, explained and the team has agency over the management of their time, a culture where resting is okay grows. This trust makes the team more involved and gives them more freedom. They become an excited team that does great work and really loves what they're doing. It's like investing in your team, and in the end, they give you more ideas, hard work, and make the school better.
Breaking the Cycle of Burnout
As teachers, we often wear multiple hats, going above and beyond to serve our students. This dedication is admirable, but it can also lead to burnout. Resting, whether through planned holidays or micro-breaks throughout the day, is not a sign of weakness; it's a necessity. It allows us to return to our classrooms refreshed, inspiring, and ready to ignite the passion for learning in others.
Imagine an orchestra conductor, orchestrating not just music, but lives. Lesson plans fill your mind like music sheets, each student a unique instrument needing special care. Your days are like big performances, poured into helping young minds grow. This is the wonderful dance of teaching, a promise made with love but also at risk of getting really tired.
In the middle of all this excitement, there's something super important that often gets forgotten: rest. It's not something you only get at the end of summer break, it's a must-have for a happy teacher life. Taking time for a breather, a quiet walk, an hour with a book, or even just chilling without screens, isn't giving up because you're tired. It's a smart move, like a timeout in a game. It's a way to recharge, to get back on track, to feel excited about teaching again.
Think of it like this, a teacher who's super tired is like a violin player with old strings. The music might not sound great, and the energy could fade. But step back, let the strings rest, and when you play again, the music is lively and beautiful. A rested teacher goes back to the class all fresh and excited, passing that energy to students. They become not just teachers but partners, mixing knowledge with passion, making every lesson amazing.
Remember, rest isn't a luxury; it's a strategic necessity. It's the pause that refreshes, the reset that reignites, and the foundation for our sustained success.
Conclusion
Anyone who knows anyone working in education appreciates the hard work that every teacher puts in. From early mornings to late nights, we've all had times where we have been caught up in getting things done. In our rush to get everything accomplished, it can be observed that we often miss the significance of taking a break. Rest isn't just something we do on weekends; it's like the secret power that helps us do our best work.
Thinking back to my earlier analogy about the battery. It can't keep going without getting recharged. When we take a break, like going for a walk outside or taking a break from screens, we're not just wasting time. We're fixing ourselves up, getting our creative ideas going, and finding again what makes our work special. Rest isn't a prize we get for finishing tasks; it's something we really need. It's like hitting a reset button that helps us come back to our work with fresh energy, new thoughts, and a strong desire to do our best.
By changing the way we think about resting in education we promote a culture that respects wellbeing. It's not something we win after finishing everything. It's something we need to help us relax, connect with ourselves, and get back our passion for teaching and learning. Taking these moments to rest helps us slow down, live life more fully and authentically. As a result, we rediscover the joy in the journey, and realise the most valuable things in life often bloom during the pauses, not the sprints.
Recognising how important rest is doesn't just help us feel better, it changes how we do things in education. We should see it as the perfect place for our love of teaching and learning to grow. When we take breaks thoughtfully instead of rushing all the time, we find happiness in the process, notice special things in the quiet times between lessons, and give ourselves the power to help our students become critical thinkers and well-rounded citizens. When we let peaceful moments inspire us, help us be more creative, and show us what truly matters, like being true to ourselves and learning from just living life.
Merry Christmas and Stay the Course!
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