What Kind of Rest do YOU Need?
I think I cried just about every day of 5th and 6th grade. And I don’t mean just a few slippery tears sneaking out - I would all out bawl like a baby. I cried because I didn’t feel like I fit in, I cried because I didn’t think I was going to do well on an assignment, I cried because my best friend hurt my feelings, I cried because my outfit didn’t fit quite right, I cried because I was embarrassed that I cried so much. My husband says I “feel my feels” very strongly and one of our children takes after me in that regard. There are some huge positives that go along with this emotional sensitivity. I’m very empathetic and have a knack for acting. I can tell when someone is not okay sooner than most people.
But there are downsides too. It certainly was difficult to make and keep friends in 5th and 6th grade. In fact, some of the boys in my class made it their goal to make me cry each day. It wasn’t hard. But the biggest challenge is letting go of those emotions so they don’t cause chronic stress and lead to physical health challenges. That requires rest.
A few years ago, I stumbled on the work of Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith. Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith is a Board-Certified internal medicine physician, speaker, and author. She is the author of several books including her book Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity. She was talking about this book on a podcast the first time I heard about her and it was life-changing for me. I thought I was managing all of my emotional stress okay. I was eating well, sleeping well and exercising regularly, all while caring for my two kids who were pretty young then. I figured they were the reason I felt tired all the time. But when I dove into Dr. Dalton-Smith’s resources, I realized I needed to make some changes in my family’s routines or we were all going to become worn out and worn down.
Well, I’m still learning, but Dr. Dalton-Smith has provided me with strategies that have taught my family how to get real rest in this frantic world. I’m sharing this all with you because she’s agreed to join me on Facebook Live on Wednesday morning at 10am, EST! I hope you’ll be able to join me, but if you can’t please watch the replay! Here’s the link for the Facebook Event where we’ll be live. In the meantime, here are two steps toward flourishing:
Head over to Dr. Dalton-Smith’s website and take her rest quiz to find out what kind of rest you need.
Decide on 1-3 ways you will incorporate rest into your week and put them on your calendar. Put reminders on your phone and sticky notes all over the place if you have to!
Are you looking for ways to incorporate rest more regularly? I’m hosting a workshop where we will not only learn about the importance of rest and how to make it a habit, but we will also spend time resting with foot soaks and hot drinks by the fire! If you’re local, you can register here. If you aren’t local, don’t worry, I’ll be announcing the details for a Facebook Live version soon. You’ll just have to provide your own hot drink and foot soak!
Need more help? Book a free Discovery Session here to find out how my Flourishing Home Framework can help your family flourish.
The content found on Flourishing Family Coaching’s website and blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding ADHD, anxiety, depression or any other medical conditions. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website or blog.