Rest

I understand that this is not the time of year to promote or tout rest because it’s the holidays and there is SO MUCH TO DO, but I’ve learned a critical lesson about rest recently, and I wanted to share it in the hope that someone can learn from my mistakes.

One of the ways I’m making space for rest is to utilize stock footage more often.

The other day, I woke up tired. The evening before, I had come in from a long day in my studio for a quick snack and said I was going back out to clean up, but I ended up working for another hour and a half. The following day, I wrote in my journal, “I need to rest!”

Did I rest? 

Haha! No.

I pretended like I was resting by taking Roxy for a three-mile hike, and then instead of working in my studio, I worked in the yard clearing away all the dead stuff and cutting back overgrown bushes and promptly pulled a muscle in my back.

Did I stop once I hurt myself? 

Nope!

I kept going until I finished the project. But the green bin is full and in Oregon, having your yard waste bin full is a status symbol.

The Green Bin - with a double sunset filter. Isn’t it pretty!

I knew I needed rest but ignored the signals to continue being productive and checking things off my to-do list. While in reality, I damaged my body, and my to-do list stands untouched. I traded one day of rest for three days of forced immobility and pain, which, for those of you keeping score - is not ideal.

The upside to this and the lesson I wanted to share is that there is always another way. While sitting on the couch with the heating pad set to blistering, I took a good hard look at my to-do list and crossed half of it off. I didn’t HAVE to do those things. I wanted to do them, but I didn’t have to. I didn’t do those things, and the world didn’t end. I also looked at my tasks and found other ways to make them happen without as much effort.

It’s okay to scale back; it’s okay to take a breath; it’s okay to stop. It’s okay to take care of yourself -Which somehow, in our society, is not as valued as being productive.

I made these mini skeins of yarn with my spinning wheel!

So this last weekend, instead of being in my studio, I spun wool on my spinning wheel, something I love and want to prioritize. I took long hot baths, again something I enjoy but have not been allowing myself the luxury of, and I ate a lot of pumpkin pie, like A LOT of pie! 

The real star of the holidays! Pumpkin Pie.

My wish for you this holiday season is for you to listen to your body, put your feet up, cross off half of your to-do list, and relax at every opportunity!

~Jill