Intentional Rest
I am immersed in one of the busiest seasons of my life right now. I’m working on so many wonderful things all at once that sometimes it feels like my head is spinning in circles just trying to keep up. There are strategies I’ve been practicing for a while that have been helping me manage the head-spinning chaos of life.
If you’re someone who’s interested in decreasing your daily overwhelm and increasing your innate desire for routines, you’ve come to the right place!
I usually don’t create yearly “themes” as I’ve seen others do, but this year feels like it needs a positive mantra at the very least. I decided during new year that in 2026, “I will not rush.”
It might not seem like the grand sentiment that I just built it up to be, but trust me, it’s a big deal. Many of us, myself absolutely included, take on so many things during our days or weeks that we completely forget to rest. The following strategy has served me well so far …
Build rest time into your daily schedule.
I’ll admit, some days it’s a struggle when I have so much to do. But it’s necessary! Building rest time into your schedule means intentionally not stacking meetings, appointments, classes, etc all in a row. Productivity and creativity flourish when intermingled with quality rest.
Here’s an example of what your schedule might look like with intentional rest times -
10:30-12:00 Obligation
12:00-12:15 Time to drive home without rushing
12:15-12:45 Lunch
12:45-1:00 Time to drive to your next activity w/o rushing
1:00-2:00 Obligation
2:00-2:30 Time to decompress or take a walk
The goal is to prioritize the “empty spaces” in your day just as much as the “obligations.”
When I make sure to have plenty of time to drive to my next appointment or to sit down at home to have a slow lunch, my day flows so much better. This idea consists of not just making time to have lunch, it means taking into account the time you need to safely drive or commute from point a to point b, the in-between space.
Last year, I worked A LOT. I’m so proud of that productivity, but it was tough. I stacked appointments to fill my day and didn’t leave enough room for intentional rest, quality food breaks, or just generally having a few minutes to settle my nervous system.
This year, I refuse to rush. I’ve put together my schedule in a way where I know I’ll have plenty of time to make and eat my breakfast without rushing. If I need to schedule a personal appointment, such as a dentist visit, I make sure to account for driving time to and from that location so it fits gently into my day, instead of stacking it too closely with another obligation, which only creates unnecessary overwhelm and that spiked-nervous system rushing feeling.
It makes a huge difference to intentionally curate the “extra spaces” in your day, even if the space you’re able to allot is only 5 minutes - take that time - you will feel better.
Until next time .. Happy Tidying!
Declutter Organize Breathe