July Restoration

July Restoration

The value of rest and recovery

We race. At breakneck speed. Having a constant sprint to the finish line – of a project, commitment, even dinner out – drives us towards imbalance. There is value in planning for rest. Planning for recovery. Recharging the battery so to speak.

Think about the marathon runner or person training for a long period of effort, they build in rest days so that the muscles can repair and the body can rest. It sets the stage for a more productive training session later that week or next.

We need this for our brain too. Time spent doing “nothing” is doing something. Turning the brain off, stopping for a time, and resting the brain and body, allows us to recapture our energy. I think of it like coils in a spring – we generate potential energy through rest and recovery. Then we launch ourselves to new heights.

A secret? The Secret Cell values rest and recovery too. It is embedded in our ancient nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system enables us to race, fight, respond, but it cannot run all the time. It needs to be balanced by the parasympathetic nervous system, which acts like a brake. It’s the time we restore. Our Secret Cells cannot be subjected to relentless racing. They need the balance too.

The value of the potential energy you create while resting and restoring is huge. It merits time being planned into your schedule. Sometimes we fear stopping – that we will lose momentum with our work, our home, our fitness. But it doesn’t. It generates better energy, better momentum, and sets us up for long-term success.

So go ahead, use your daily calendar to:

· schedule a nap,

· to have some silent time walking in the woods,

· to perhaps reflect by the water’s edge

But be intentional. Turn the gas off, have an evening with no commitments, no stimulation, just resting. You’ll find you’re faster, more creative, and feel amazing! And your Secret Cell will love the re-calibration of this balance! 

Kathryn