Why is it we never see this as a headline?
Imagine a world where everyone feels rested and has the energy to show up in their life as the best version of themselves.
A lack of good rest can effect the nervous system impairing the body's ability to fight off infection and to heal itself. It can lead feelings of fatigue, burn out and increased aches and pains.
When we are exhausted it impairs our ability to learn and retain information, it effects our ability to be present and to fully enjoy the things we might usually love.
Here are 5 ways to improve well being and nervous system health for improved mood and productivity.
Make yourself a priority-This might sound trite but if you were to sit down and honestly think about all the times you said 'yes' to staying late and doing extra at work, 'yes' to the many social engagements even when you were not in the mood, fulfilled the daily tasks for your loved ones but with a sense of obligation rather than from a place of generosity. This practice of making yourself a priority is not selfish, this is the first and most important obligation you have 'to yourself" and to others.
Ask for help- If you are anything like me you will find this one tough. It's not easy to ask others for assistance when you are accustomed to being self-sufficient. It might stem from a sense of pride, being stubborn, feeling no one can get the job done like you or a feeling that others will see you as incapable. But honestly...people love helping each other, we all like to feel useful and to feel as though we are contributing. And collaborating with others helps us grow faster and without feeling the entire weight of the world on our shoulders.
Naps- I know people will be divided on this one because not everyone finds it possible to nap during the day, some people feel it effects their sleep quality. So this needs to take in the consideration the needs of each persons sleep cycle and needs. Scientists found that people who napped for 30 to 90 showed signs of improved memory. People who napped longer than 90 minutes showed a decrease in cognitive function. This could be due to them having poor night time rest. Ultimately we need to be getting the right amount of rest, not too much and not too little.
Restorative yoga- This is a practice of constructive rest. Yoga props and blankets are used to support the body to come to a place where the muscles can relax and postures can be practiced without strain or effort. In effect it works to support the body to come into a more parasympathetic state of 'rest and digest'. In order to perform our daily tasks with more vitality and enthusiasm we need to make time for rest. Try this mini restorative practice to recharge and restore. Bolster yoga-5 poses
Mindfulness Meditation-Scientific research has shown that meditation improves productivity and focus. Even companies like Google have corporate meditation classes available for employees. Neuroimaging scans show that people who meditate have enhanced neural activity in the prefrontal cortex compared to non-meditators. This means that meditators are more able to concentrate on work. Try this meditation daily for one week as see if you too can expereience the benefits of imprved focus and productivity A moment of pause
Ultimately when we step away from the check lists and constant mind chatter we give ourselves the time to process and digest life's challenges without having to solve or fix them in this moment.
This improves our overall ability to deal with daily tasks with more clarity and stability.
Try one or all of these practices throughout the following weeks and notice what differences you see!
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