Why is Rest Important?
We NEED rest.
1.Healthy sleep is associated with better heart health.
Studies have shown that healthy sleep patterns are associated with lower risk of cardiovascular and stroke disease. (1) Studies have also shown an increase in cortisol levels, decreased immunity and increased markers of sympathetic activity in sleep-deprived healthy subjects and those with chronic insomnia. (2)
2. Rest is important for us to recharge.
Have you ever tried working 30+ hours straight with no rest?
I have, on a regular basis.
After the 24th hour- I’m physically exhausted, my processing speed is impaired, I’m emotionally drained as well. Although I get to rest slightly after that, it is difficult to repay the sleep debt and it often carries over for the next few days.
Rest is not purely just about sleep. It can include various other activities you enjoy doing eg. Reading a book, spending time with family/friends, praying or spending some time doing our hobbies. Rest helps us to continue doing what we want to do, for longer.
3. We aren’t created to work like machines.
Humans are limited and only God is sovereign.
If we try and push ourselves beyond what we can do, at some point we will not be able to sustain this level of intensity— physically we will fall ill / or mentally we are not able to handle the strain.
We are to do the best with what we are entrusted with, and leave the rest to God.
As we plan our timetables and our to-do lists in our everyday lives, may I encourage you to also set time aside for rest as well. It is not something that can be deferred for “later” indefinitely, but a rhythm of rest needs to be cultivated regularly.
At Fruitfullyy, we want to empower women to be able to live a life with intentionality. We work hard for what we care for, but ultimately, we still need to remember that rest is important as well.
References
1.Nambiema A, Lisan Q, Vaucher J, et al. Healthy sleep score changes and incident cardiovascular disease in European prospective community-based cohorts. Eur Heart J. 2023;44(47):4968-4978. doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehad657
2.Khan MS, Aouad R. The Effects of Insomnia and Sleep Loss on Cardiovascular Disease. Sleep Med Clin. 2022;17(2):193-203. doi:10.1016/j.jsmc.2022.02.008
