Fatigue has something to tell you. The big question is: are you listening to your body’s wise message? in this article you will read how valuable it is to rest and relax. “It may seem that we are not productive during rest days, but the opposite is true.”
An important message
You probably recognize it: the days when everything feels heavy, your body is not cooperating. You are already tired when you open your eyes in the morning… This is of course not a nice way to start the day. I give you some tips to deal with fatigue. It is important to know that your body has something to tell you. It’s very simple: take a step back, take it easy. We live in a society in which a lot is expected of us and in which we demand a lot from ourselves. We may have goals we want to achieve. But did you know that it is extremely important to build in a rest day to achieve your goals? It may seem that we are not productive during these days, but the opposite is true.
If you don’t listen to your body…
When we go beyond our limits, our body gives off a signal, the fatigue. With this we are, as it were, ‘forced’ to take a step back. But you may not be able to slow down because too much is required of you. As a result, you may not be able to listen to your body for a long time. You go on and on and your body starts producing adrenaline. It does this because it ‘thinks’ it is in danger. The adrenaline, a stress hormone, makes you feel like you have renewed energy.
Your body has given you a signal, namely the fatigue. You have not been able to listen and act upon it. This puts you in a state of readiness: there is a constant adrenaline rush in your body. If this continues for a longer period of time, you are prone to burnout.
Yin and Yang energy
Life is made up of yin and yang. Yang is a dynamic energy, of doing and activities. Yang energy cannot exist without yin energy. Yin stands for relaxation and softness. Yin energy is greatly needed if you have lived in the yang energy for too much or too long. Yin is about reflection, seeking silence and meditation. Coming home to yourself. If you build in space for yourself, there is a good chance that you will come to new insights. Research what makes you relax: listening to calm music, walking in nature, visiting a sauna, reading a book… You probably know what helps you to recharge.
The many benefits of rest
As I wrote before: rest gives new ideas. And these new ideas ensure that you can take steps again. And there’s more: sleep and relaxation allow your body cells to renew and process the events of the day. They are hugely important. So prioritize at least 7 hours of sleep per night. Your cells renew during sleep, which has a positive effect on your body and mind. Enough reasons to give yourself some rest. It is essential to be the best version of yourself. Not only do you benefit from this, but also your environment.
Be inspired by the jaguar
We can learn a lot from nature, from the animal kingdom. Take a jaguar. This animal can easily reach 80 kilometers per hour when running. It naturally has a good balance of activity and rest. The jaguar lives instinctively and does not think about tomorrow or next week. He takes rest when needed. This is how he charges himself for the moment he wants to catch his prey. After hunting, the jaguar takes time to eat its meal. Then he rests and can digest the meal well. He then charges for the next hunt. We as humans can learn a lot from this. We also need this charging time. After we are recharged, we can resume activities with new and fresh energy.
Long live slowing down!
It’s not easy to sit still. Sometimes it is even very hard work to stand still. We are faced with a little voice in our head that tells us to be productive and keep going. Because that’s how we are programmed. In our society it is all about economic growth and we are focused on matter. Still, it’s more than worth the effort to ‘slow down’. Start today.