When I resolved to make October my month of focusing on rest, I forgot that it is one of my busiest months of the year! Between a weekend in Orlando, a week with my parents out of town and me running two households, and a weekend in Nashville - plus another weekend in Nashville for Vandy’s homecoming this weekend – I haven’t had much time to rest.
T-minus 4 days until Homecoming!
I’ve focused a little bit on mental rest, but physical rest is still important too! One of my main problems since childhood has been that I am unable to turn my brain off at night. I lie there, wide awake, thinking of everything that needs to be done the next day…and struggle to fall asleep.
That hasn’t happened as much this year, with being so much busier in grad school, but there is one trick that I have when the dreaded insomnia strikes. I wake up, grab a pen and paper, and write out everything on my mind.
Everything that needs to be done the next day, everyone that I need to call, everything that needs to be added to the agenda. I make list after list after list. And eventually? My brain is finally able to relax.
It realizes that its job for the day is done, and I am able to sleep the sweet slumber that I so need. Making to-do lists doesn’t seem very restful, does it? But sometimes you have to get all of your worries and cares and fretting out of your system before your body can relax.
It’s wondrous how interconnected the mind and body are! While a little bit of physical rest, or a little bit of mental rest, is good, a combination of the two is so much better.
Can you tell that your mind and body are so linked? What do you do when one just won’t cooperate?
I used to do the same thing when I was a kid; I slept with a pen and paper next to my bed and make to do lists while I tried to sleep. I fall asleep very easily now; meditation has helped me a lot.
I’ve always been curious about meditation, but I’m just soooo impatient! I feel that I wouldn’t be very good at it…
I still sleep with a pen and paper next to my bed! It helps me relax to know that I’m set up well for the day ahead. The tricky thing is learning when to shut it off when the to-do list keeps popping up in my head!
This sounds like a theme on here
We must all be some OCD/busy people!
I have such a hard time falling asleep sometimes! My mind definitely races too, but the deeper into training we get the more tired I get.
Hahaha so true – maybe I need to start training for a new race to wear me out!!
I absolutely used to struggle with this. I started a routine every night of setting an intention and then reading, it seems like the reading helps me to turn off my thinking and fall asleep!
you are right, rest is super important
Reading definitely helps me – unless it’s a really good book and I just can’t put it down!!
Oh yes I know that feeling! First though, have fun with homecoming, and enjoy all the things you ave on at the moment.
Writing to do lists is a great idea – I write down all the things I need to get done as well – it puts my mind at ease so I can sleep too.
Thank you! I’m looking forward to it. And I’m glad so many other people do this too!!
Exercise makes my mind and body go back in sync!! I may dread exercise before I do it, but afterwards I feel so put together!!
You are so right – I agree with you 100%!
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