Rest Is Not a Luxury: Redefining Rest for High Achievers

What does the word “rest” mean to you? What do you picture when you think of taking a restorative break? Some people seem to easily kick back, unburden themselves of demands and do nothing. If you’re a high achiever, you may be perplexed by this. You may experience a mind and / or body that craves productivity or engagement. If that is your experience, you may find it difficult or impossible to flip a switch and just sit down and “rest.” Redefining rest for high achievers means finding rest that meets a high need for engagement.

Even when you’re tired and want to take a break, it may seem like your brain is constantly looking for ways to be productive. You might feel restless or uneasy sitting still. For folks who crave engagement, restorative practices need to be personalized and may be more active than what typically comes to mind when we think of “rest.”

Take a moment to reflect on times when you have felt outside of the rush of productivity. Perhaps it was while you were playing a sport or exercising, absorbed in the flow of conversation with a friend, cooking, driving, or solving the spelling bee. Whatever it was, it worked because your mind was taking a break from the effort of productivity. Read more about redefining rest for high achievers at Psychology Today