This week my friend, Dr. Diana Hill, hosted a small gathering of women at her home to celebrate our group’s December birthdays and also to welcome in and set our intentions for the new year. In our meeting, Diana introduced the idea of junk rest – rest that doesn’t restore us.
What is Junk Rest?
Restorative rest includes the things you do to rest and relax that are in alignment with your values, while junk rest consists of the things that you do to rest and relax that take you away from your values. You can learn more about Diana and her work by listening to her Wise Effort podcast. I loved this episode in particular with our friend, Jenny Schatzle local gym owner, author, and activist (also part of this lovely group of women).
Naming Junk Rest
What I’ve found so helpful is to have a name(!) for the things that I do to take a break that aren’t fulfilling or restorative.
Here are some of the things I think of as junk rest:
- Too much screen time (or too late)
- Scrolling on social media
- Mindless eating or snacking
- Easy ‘productive’ tasks when what you really need is rest
Here are some of the things I think of as restorative rest:
- Taking a nap
- Reading a good book
- Sitting outside or taking a walk
- Doing a creative project, hobby, or art
- Watching a good movie or show
Shifting from Junk Rest to Restorative Rest
What does restorative rest look like for you? What does junk rest look like for you? My hope is that by naming it, you will start to think about it like junk food. Okay, once in a while, not something you want all the time.
So here’s what I’m doing to change things up. I’m not checking the news when I have a break! This is hard, I do this a lot. I have good boundaries and then a crisis happens, and I dive back in, like knowing more is going to help in some way. It doesn’t. Instead, I want to be helpful by donating, volunteering, and reaching out to friends and family. Last night, I got into Bad Sisters (I know I’m late to the party on this one) and I shut it down before it automatically loaded the next episode, brushed my teeth and got into bed with a good book. Small wins. Restorative rest.
Your Turn
What small shifts can you make to embrace restorative rest? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear your ideas!
