Resting is a Verb
I (Sophie) am famous among my pals for my ability to fall asleep anywhere, any time. I’m a bona fide sleepy gal who always needs to know where my next opportunity to be quiet and/or still is coming from. My body and brain clearly need this rest, so why do I feel SO GUILTY about it (it’s probably capitalism, innit).
I can’t overstate how much I love a big ol’ rest. I love 14-hour flights because for me, that means 14 hours of sleep. I enjoy (light) hangovers because they mean a day of being still without any self-inflicted shame.
When I got the keys to my flat last year, I had a full 30-minute nap on the floor of what’s now my office because I didn’t have any furniture and I was suddenly v snoozy. No blanket, no pillow, just me in the foetal position on the ground of my empty new home.
I’m actually so good at resting that I NEVER shut my eyes without setting an alarm first because I’m convinced I’ll accidentally sleep for circa five business days.
Resting is an afternoon nap on the sofa
Resting as a Work Hack
Beyond being my #1 hobby, resting when I need to also makes me loads better at my job. If you’ve ever felt that soul-crushing tiredness at 2 pm that can only be fixed with a quick lie down, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. And I’m not the only one who thinks napping is a productivity hack — actual scientists agree!
Researchers from University College London and the University of the Republic in Uruguay found a link between naps and cognitive health (and that afternoon snoozing can actually make our brains bigger). Another study showed that 15-minute power naps can immediately improve performance for up to THREE HOURS post-snooze (I can defo vouch for this).
Resting is a flask of coffee somewhere beautiful
The Neurodivergent Urge to Do ✨Nothing✨
Since my ADHD diagnosis last year, a lot of my ‘rester’s guilt’ has started to fade. I now recognise my need to break up my days with little rests as being completely legitimate, because it’s also pretty much the only way I can navigate my brain fog to feel like a fully-functional human.
But it shouldn’t take a medical diagnosis to recognise the importance of rest. Giving yourself the break that your brain and body need isn’t just a productivity hack (this 100% is not a post aimed at helping you cram more tasks into a day, we are the queens of gentle workdays and non-stressful to-do lists). It’s about recognising ways to make work days feel as easy and joyful as possible.
Working for ourselves means that we can structure our days however we want (there’s no 9-5 pressure here!), so if a podcast on the sofa after completing a big task is your jam, then have at it.
Resting is listening to an audiobook in the sun
This lil post is a reminder that resting is a verb. You aren’t ‘doing nothing’ or ‘wasting time’, you’re giving your brain and body what they need.
If all else fails, rebrand your power nap as a siesta. We’re just out here living our best continental European lives, and surely nobody can argue with that 💅🏻