How To Rest Your Way To Success

Mental Health Oct 05, 2019

When was the last time you got a good night’s sleep?

When did you last wake up feeling refreshed and energised ready to start your day?

If it was more than a week ago, then you’re most likely suffering from some type of stress. It wouldn’t be surprising; a Broker’s life is often a stressful one.

With unrelenting sales targets, significant changes to the industry regulations and the business environment, it’s no surprise that you may be struggling to get a good night’s sleep.

But, is sleep the only thing that you need to feel truly refreshed and rejuvenated?

The science says, that there is more to getting a good night sleep than just getting your 7-9 hours.

In fact, if you master the true art of getting “Real Rest”, which is more than just sleep, then you can completely turn your stressful life around and Rest your way to success in all areas of your life.

Before I dive into what getting ‘Real Rest’ means, lets look at the number one thing that most people do when they’re feeling tired and stressed, and why it may not be the answer.

Getting 7-9 Hours of Sleep Each Night

There’s a problem with relying on just going to bed for 7-9 hours, as recommended by The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society.

Bedtime is a busy time for your brain, it constantly cycles, four or five times, through two different types of sleep. REM (Rapid Eye Movement), the dream sleep and no REM.

There are four parts to no REM, beginning with the falling asleep stage, moving into a lighter sleep and then into a deeper stage of sleep. REM sleep is after deep sleep, this is the dream state.

While you’re sleeping, the body and brain go through a process of healing and renewal.

If there is too little time in deep sleep and REM, then your body cannot complete the healing and renewal processes. Disruptive sleep is common. Even after spending 7-9 hours in bed; you may wake up still feeling tired and this will affect your ability to perform during the day.

It’s the quality of your sleep that is important.

The compound effect from the lack of quality sleep night after night, can result in severe consequences, apart from brain fog, irritability and short temped which are common.

A compromised immune system, high blood pressure, obesity, type 2 diabetes and depression are just some of the many consequences of ongoing lack of sleep.

So, going to bed earlier, although a great thing for most people to do, may not result in a restful productive night’s sleep.

Disruptive sleep may be the reason that you’re waking up tired, having brain fog during the day and finding that you get angry easily. This may be an indicator that you’re not getting the quality sleep that your body and brain needs.

There are things that you can do to help you get the quality sleep you need, and you can read about them here… Lack of Sleep Kills Productivity - Why Good Sleep is Important And How To Get It.

In addition to getting a good night’s sleep, there’s an important part of self-care that’s ignored by most people.

And, it has a disastrous effect on business productivity and an individual’s health.

Many people are not getting the real ‘Rest’ that they need.

As a business owner, you’re most likely a hardworking, highly driven type of person. The perfect personality for being a workaholic.

• Maybe you think that taking a Rest is a sign of laziness?
• Maybe you don’t see Rest as adding value to your business and productivity?
• Maybe you think that Rest is for the weak and not committed.

But getting adequate REST is vital for your mental, physical, and emotional health, as well as your business performance and professional reputation.

When you focus all your energy and effort on working and then ignore the other part of the Success equation, REST; that’s when things start to go off track.

Why Getting REST Is Important

Real Rest is vital for the health and well being of your body, mind and your business. If you’re depleted in any area of your life, you will be experiencing the consequences.

• Mentally, you may have brain fog, be feeling overloaded, drowning in your work and struggling to keep on top of your commitments.
• Emotionally, you may be feeling overwhelmed, angry and you might even feel like screaming or crying.
• Physically, you may be experiencing fatigue, pain, headaches, anxiety and stress.
• Spiritually, you may be questioning your beliefs, your God, your purpose in life.

These are all signs of stress, and if you don’t do something about it, it can become ugly as I mentioned in my earlier blog Stress- The Good the Bad And The Ugly.

If you’re burnt out-you need time out to Rest. Period.

What is Real REST?

Real Rest does not mean lying on the couch doing nothing but watching movies and Netflix.

No, it’s deeper than that.

First you need to identify which area needs restoring. Look at what’s working and what’s not working.

• What are your symptoms?
• What or who do you need a break from?
• What area is depleted?

Look at the various areas of your life and ask yourself quality questions about what you’re experiencing. You may only need to focus your time Resting in one of these areas. For example, …

Mental
If you have constant negative mind chatter, then this will affect your ability to focus and concentrate. You need to still your mind.

A still mind helps creativity, decision making and problem solving. This will translate in your work environment so that you can be productive, make effective decisions and get the results that you’re working towards.

Emotional
If you’re surrounded by negative people in your work environment, it can easily have a negative effect on your emotional well being. You may not even notice it happening.

Ask yourself, are you angry for no apparent reason?

You may need to set boundaries with these people and detox yourself before going home to your family and infecting them with any negative feelings.

Have a Rest from these people, remove yourself and find people that energise you.

Social
Review your social relationships, are they supportive and do they energise you? Or are they toxic and draining your energy?

If it’s possible, it’s OK to break ties with toxic people. If they are work colleagues or customers or even family members, limit the time that you spend with them.

Have a Rest from the negative friends and seek out the friends and family that make you laugh and energise you.

Physical
Seek medical advice immediately if you are suffering any physical ailments.

Take care of your body, be kind to yourself. Self-care is important and easy to do. Get a massage, take a hot bath. Do some gentle exercise such as walking or yoga. Meditate and practice mindfulness.

Have a Rest from sensory experiences such as noise, light and smells as these can become overwhelming and create unnecessary stress. If you can, remove the offending experience, close your eyes and meditate.

Spiritual
Connecting with your spirit, whether that be through meditation or prayer is a personal thing. When your Spirit needs lifting, give yourself the time and the peace to be present.

Have a Rest from the noise and chaos of your day. A few minutes of silence can calm the mind and comfort the Spirit.

Allow yourself to be with your God or the earth. Take off your shoes and walk bare foot mindfully feeling each part of your foot sensing the grass, sand and so on.

When you take care of these key areas of your life, and you practice doing the things that you need to do daily, you may find that in a short time your stress and anxiety will decrease.

This will also help you sleep better.

For deep sleep to occur, you need to get into a Rested state. Prepare your body and your mind before bed. Learn more about what to do here … Lack of Sleep Kills Productivity - Why Good Sleep is Important And How To Get It.

Make Work Rest Balance a Lifestyle.

Take regular Rest breaks during the day. It doesn’t need to be long, just 5 mins can be enough. Stretch, take a walk, drink some water, talk to someone or simply close your eyes.

Real Rest is how we become more innovative, productive and creative, which are essential for business success.

As business owners you need to set your boundaries around making Rest a priority in your life and your business.

Encourage others in your team to Rest too, give them permission, show them that it should be important in their life too.

If you need help with any of this, don’t hesitate to contact a us or your local family doctor.

There are plenty of people who can help you take time out and Rest your way to success.