In praise of Rest

At various points in my life, I—probably like you—have felt the need to prioritise rest. As we now embark on the winter months, we are invited to consider the rest our bodies and minds may require. The changing of the seasons is all part of the Divine design, prompting us to look within and learn to focus on rebooting and recharging. Many of us have faced turbulence personally, alongside the turmoil of world events and the general societal pressures that take an emotional—and therefore physical—toll.

We are living in extremely un-restful and unwell times. I was recently reflecting on the days and seasons of my childhood, pre-teen years, and adolescence before high school and university. The amount of cultural pressure and tension present in society has increased dramatically and has created immense change in the way we live. It truly feels like an unprecedented era. The rates of illness, depression, anxiety, and autoimmune conditions have skyrocketed in the last 20 years. Never in my life have I seen more exhausted, depleted, and drained individuals.

This has led me to begin asking some really difficult questions, which I feel are also being asked more broadly by certain individuals and communities. There are a few prominent men raising questions about the depletion and crisis among young men, but I feel this issue of unrest and unwellness goes far beyond that—it encompasses both men and women.

The most obvious question being asked is why? And the answer is often much more complex than we’d like to admit or face. We are living in an incredibly complex and intentionally confusing society. I really feel that much of our depletion and unwellness stems from a deeply toxic culture that idolises and exalts being overworked and overextended. Although I am not intending to point to a strictly political problem, the pressures and systems of capitalism are proving to be very destructive. This is because the issue goes beyond politics and reaches into the core values that shape our lives.

These values frequently promote self-disrespect and the belief that the harder we work, the more blessing and abundance we will receive. As a culture, we do not value rest, delight, or slowness. We praise “hard work” and “providing,” neither of which are negative in themselves. But it all depends on how we define them and what we devote our hard work to. Is the work simply about cooperating with a society that demands we constantly show up, pay others, and remain tired, irritable, unwell, and depleted? Or are we playing our part while also doing the far more important work of integrating values and practices of rest, play, delight, and presence?

Are we able to stop the so-called “productive” output that American culture upholds with such fervour? Can we slow down and focus on the production of a heart that is well-rested, clear-seeing, and vibrantly connected? These questions challenge us to reconsider what true “work,” “labouring,” and “production” actually are. What are we really cooperating with in a society that does not value wellness, balance, rest, or frequent human connection?

The ways in which we address this are often debated and rarely sustained for long. Certainly, we can make radical and sudden shifts through willpower to try to re-centre. But much of how we achieve genuine change is through daily and weekly commitments to practices that de-program the brain patterns keeping us in depletion. Willpower alone won’t cut it. Technology, social media, and a pro-consumption culture work in ways that overpower the brain unless intentional commitments are made. Some of the practices I’ve found useful are:

Digital Minimalism

Check out Cal Newport’s radical book, where he offers a countercultural yet practical approach to minimising our interaction with media.

The Age of Addiction — How Bad Habits Became Big Business

David T. Courtwright helps us understand how the forces of “limbic capitalism” use science and brain manipulation to keep us occupied and out of rest.

Learning to Recognise When Your Mind Demands Filling

For instance:

• At a traffic light—do you need a quick fix of your phone?

• In the waiting room at the doctor’s office—do you need to look?

• Can you, instead, focus on breathing, meditating, or remembering pleasant moments?

  
  

Integrate a Sabbath Practice

Sabbath is an ancient Jewish tradition embedded in the culture for thousands of years.

Everyone cooperates with a total shutdown of work, hurry, and production for a full 24 hours.

Could you attempt this for a week and see how you do? Could you try just 12 hours as a gentle start?

Opportunity for Reflection

How do you feel reading the suggestions above? Recently, I invited someone to join me in a social media detox, and I felt the uncomfortable friction in them as they declined. How does this type of invitation sit with you?

• In what ways have you not valued rest in your life?

• Do you feel exhausted?

• Do you feel depleted?

• Is this caused by not questioning your habits or taking a moment to evaluate why you are hustling so much?

• What can you say no to this week in order to value rest?

• What can you say no to consuming so you can minimise and cut back?

• Can you switch off your phone for 6–8 hours this weekend and be present with your loved ones?