I’m in denial. I think it’s like March in my mind? I don’t understand time. It isn’t real.
Anyway. Here’s what we have in this ‘September’ (if you say so) newsletter:
So! Let’s get into it!
🤔 A thought I’m processing [on empty minds]
💕 A thought I’m loving on [different kinds of rest]
🗳️ A poll [on rest]
🆓 September’s resource: [what kind of rest do you need?]
🔗 Some link love [journal prompt ideas]
📆 A full recap & links to this past month’s posts
🤔 A thought I’m processing [on empty minds]
Guys. What am I processing? It feels like nothing.
I’m certified in a communication model that talks about a specific phase some people are in (me), where part of the way they process is reflection, like processing after a prompt, after a thought. And I think the past few weeks, I’ve been trying to get caught up on work, trying to stabilize my body, and then in my time of rest- I haven’t had much input. So really, the only thoughts I’ve processed have been some random responses to some Marco Polos, but apart from that, my mind is sort of…still. Which sounds like a nice thing, but I think it’s more like…inactive. There’s not much happening there.
It’s a reminder to care for myself the way I KNOW I work best - which is with input. With learning, with reading, and with time to reflect on thoughts and ideas.
When I’m overwhelmed, I know that rest that involves no action sounds so nice. Rest that involves, like, no thinking, no activity, no processing. But the truth is - that kind of rest may not take anything from me, but it doesn’t give anything to me either. It leaves me as it found me; an object at rest remains at rest.
Sometimes, it takes a little action, interaction, push, to find the internal pull that gives me back more than the day has taken.
❤️ A thought I’m loving [on different kinds of rest]
Well, I won’t say it’s a poetic source, but processing my non-processing led me back to the ol’ APA (American Psychological Association).
Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD, author of Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity, explained the importance of a holistic approach to rest in a 2021 TED Talkopens in new window…
Dalton-Smith describes seven essential types of rest required to address the “rest deficit” that pervades American culture…
While rest sometimes means taking a break from draining activities, it can also be active, says Marianna Strongin, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and owner of Strong In Therapyopens in new window in New York City. For example, spending time with supportive people, taking your favorite workout class, or going on a nature walk can all be restful. The key is to identify where you use the most energy and focus on finding what restores you in those particular areas…
Basically, we tend to group all rest into one category, when the truth is, we have different pieces of our humanity that need different kinds of rest. We might need physical rest, or emotional or mental rest, or sensory rest, or creative rest…
If you find yourself resistant to rest, it may be helpful to reframe the idea of rest altogether. Rather than a passive act that hinders your progress or productivity, think of rest as an investment in your energy store. “I think about energy like a bank account,” says Dattilo-Ryan. “When you’re busy, you’re making withdrawals and not many deposits. When you rest, you’re building a diversified portfolio of investments into your account.”
🗳️ A poll on [rest]
Alright party people, what kind of rest do you think you need most right now?
🆓 September’s Resource
All this rest talk leads me to the resource I created for this month. I thought it might be helpful to have some kind of interactive worksheet that helps you identify where you might need rest, identify what is actually restorative to you in that area, and then make a plan for it. So, for those who are paid subscribers, enjoy the September resource below!
(Please note that some of my messier thoughts and tools are behind a paywall. You can read more about why I do that here, and feel free to upgrade your subscription to access them and support my research/work!)
🔗 Some links for September
For some reason, I am deep in the journaling prompts atm, so here’s what you get for September:
Share yours with me as well! Always on the hunt for good journal prompts. (They’re great ways to get my mind moving into activity and restorative rest, or reflecting, like stones I can drop into the lake of my mind to get the water shifting.)
📅 What you missed in August (besides the heat)
Below are some links to thoughts I’ve shared this past month! (Please note that some of my messier thoughts and musings are behind a paywall. You can read more about why I do that here, and feel free to upgrade your subscription to access them and support my research!)
“You don’t know what love is” - a little light rant on one of the ways church has normalized gaslighting
This one’s for the girls - some reflections on why I have imposter syndrome and some research around how girls view themselves
I saw my heart this week - some thoughts on how neat we are as humans
Some thoughts on agency, sovereignty, and last month’s newsletter