Entrepreneurs; Coping with fatigue: why rest is so important

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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.”

POTS: A Little Known Cause of Extreme Fatigue | Johns Hopkins Medicine

An important message

94,865 BEST Important Message IMAGES, STOCK PHOTOS & VECTORS | Adobe Stock

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.

File:Yin yang.svg - Wikimedia Commons
Yin and Yang Symbol

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.

jaguar wildlife leopard animal stalking hunt ferocious ecuador attack front  angry deadly wilderness tiger racing toward the camera with his violent  look pointing the photographer Stock Photo | Adobe Stock
Learn and be inspired by the jaguar

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. 

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Do you suddenly wake up at the same time every night? This is what it can mean

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Do you wake up in the middle of the night? Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can have an explanation and a solution for you.

Forever Conscious explains the TCM body-clock principle that every organ has a time for high energy and a time for low energy. That is why there is an optimum time for every activity, from exercise to eating, from sex to rest. 
If you organize your day so that you follow the TCM body clock, you will feel your best day and night. Holistic Health Library recommends waking up and drinking water between 5 AM and 7 AM; take a nap between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. and avoiding sugary foods between 7 and 9 p.m.

During the day the body is full of yang energy, which is associated with activity, expansion and fire. Night, on the other hand, is reserved for yin energy. Sacred Lotus explains that yin is slow, recovering and cool. When you sleep, ying energy is used to restore the body, Organic Olivia says. During this time the liver cleanses the blood and expels the lungs toxins. This is why sleep is so important. It is also the reason why waking up in the middle of the night can be a symptom of an underlying problem.

If you wake up between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., your liver may have problems processing waste. This can be irritating and lead to attacks of insomnia, as well as frustration and anger. To strengthen the liver and resolve this problem, consider whether you harbor resentment against someone. If so, work to resolve your resentment and anger. It may surprise you that when you free your mind from toxic emotions, your body can better rid itself of physical waste.

Waking up between 3 and 5 in the morning is another sign of emotional unrest. Sadness and anxiety in particular are associated with the lungs. During these hours the lungs clean themselves of toxic build-up. So when you wake up coughing, your body can signal that your lungs have problems clearing up toxins. Forever Conscious recommends deep breathing exercises to help you fall asleep and refresh your lungs.

Waking up in the middle of the night is a sign of too much yang energy, says Cultural China. Wrap warm blankets or clothing around your shoulders to fall asleep again. Take a few deep breaths and exhale to rid the body of negative energy. Rub your hands together to generate heat and then use a warm hand to massage the sides of your nose and the other hand to cover your eyes. Do this for a count of 35. Then move your ears back and forth 35 times and then cover your ears with your hands so that your fingers rest on the back of your head. Tap the back of your head 25 times. Finally, stretch your arms wide and swallow three times, imagining that the saliva flows to your navel. Lie down again. It may surprise you that you fall asleep fairly quickly.

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