5 Ways to Stop Hustling and Find Deeper Rest
In a culture that continuously feeds off of the hustle mentality, how do you find deeper rest? While sleep and rest are intertwined, cultivating deeper rest requires planning ahead and choosing intentionality throughout the day. Read on for five ways to press pause on the hustle and find that deeper rest you are craving.
1. Create a restful sanctuary to sleep in
It’s a widely known fact that sleep is essential. One way to get better sleep is to create a serene and aesthetic space you look forward to sleeping in. With more people working from home, it can be common to bring work (and your phone) into bed with you but experts suggest that creating a separation between work and sleep is vital. Scrolling social media or emails at night in bed exposes you to blue light from the screen, putting your biological clock on alert. Having a cutoff time at night for electronics can help encourage the bedroom to be a place designated for sleep. Clearing out excess clutter, picking calming colors for the walls & décor, and setting the temperature between 60-67 degrees can create space for blissful, uninterrupted sleep.
2. Take mini breaks throughout the day
Taking breaks has been found to be very beneficial not only for well-being but also productivity. While it is common for workplaces to offer a break during a workday, taking mini-breaks of 2-5 minutes can also offer surprising benefits. This could be taking a mini-break to get up from your desk to stretch your legs, grabbing a drink of water, chatting with a co-worker between meetings, or even taking five for a yummy snack break. Taking mini-breaks can be a quick, easy way to lower chronic stress and bolster morale throughout the day, leaving you more rested by the time the workday ends. For a decadent, healthy snack you look forward to on break time consider making these No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies. Made with high-protein Maximum Vibrance Chocolate Chunk, these cookies are rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein to give you increased energy and stamina to move through your workday.
3. Meditate for a calmer headspace at night
Many adults struggle with falling and staying asleep as many sleep issues stem from anxiety, worry, or stress. Meditation is a relaxation technique that can greatly help quiet the mind and body, improving control of the nervous system and overall relaxation. Mediation may also help to increase the sleep hormone melatonin, and serotonin, as well as reduce heart rate and decrease blood pressure. The practice of meditation does not need to be overcomplicated. It begins with finding a quiet space, slowing down your breathing, and becoming the quiet observer of your thoughts for even 5 to 10 minutes. If this feels intimidating, there are a number of guided meditations available online ranging anywhere from 5-20 minutes and more.
4. Learn to say “no” more frequently
Learning how to set boundaries and the power of your “yes” and “no” is powerful. While hustle culture often promotes the message that you can do it all, it can fail to recognize you most likely cannot do it all well. Saying “yes” to every request that comes can lead to feeling overwhelmed, drained, burnt out, and even resentful. Learning when to say no begins with knowing your priorities for your current season. Some simple tips for setting better boundaries are:
- Taking at least 24 hours to consider requests instead of agreeing on the spot
- Writing out your top priorities for the current season and stick to them
- When it is a “no” do so kindly but firmly, only offering an explanation if it is necessary
5. Find ways to plan ahead to avoid unnecessary stress + rushing
We all know the feeling of waking up rushed and stressed running from thing to thing. What if there was a better way? Finding small ways to plan ahead can reduce stress levels and help encourage deeper rest. Small ways to do this include planning out your outfit, making lunch, setting up the coffee pot for the morning, and even laying out ingredients for smoothies the night before work. Getting up even 10-15 minutes earlier can also help to give you extra buffer time to prevent rushing. Smoothies are a simple, nutrient dense on-the-go breakfast that is both portable and fast. Vibrant Health’s Green Vibrance + Protein is a multi-tasking all-in-one protein powder with 25 billion probiotics designed to improve digestion and bolster immune health. With 20 grams of plant protein from spirulina, peas, and pumpkin seeds, this superfood infused product will keep you feeling full, satisfied, and energized on busy days. For a creamy, chocolatey smoothie for the morning consider making this Peppermint Chocolate Chip Smoothie with Green Vibrance + Protein.
The time is now to break up with hustle culture and find deeper rest. Cultivating deeper rest requires slowing down, re-examining priorities, and giving your mind and body both nurture and care. Making space to reduce stress and hustling helps you to create a beautiful, flourishing life full of deeper rest and vibrance for years to come.