Rest

Dr Rest is certainly not sleepy. In fact much the opposite—he’s bright and perky!

Do you ever find yourself so busy that you finally drop at the end of the day from exhaustion?

We have all heard of the saying “burning the candle at both ends” to describe a person who is always going full speed, borrowing from the store of energy and robbing themselves of needed rest to let body and mind rest up and refresh. 

Rest is one of the most underrated aspects of health. 

The first place we think of when we speak of rest is in our beds for a night’s sleep. You need to make sure you get 8-9 hours of sleep per night. Going to bed early and getting up early help us start the day with less rush for work and other activities. One hour before midnight is better than two hours after. It won’t take long to get into a regular pattern.

To help you sleep, eat the right food at the right times so your stomach is ready to rest when you go to bed. Plenty of physical exercise will make your body ready to sleep when you are and exposure to sunlight will also make you feel more relaxed and ready to sleep. A balance of mental and physical work as well as other aspects of your life will help too. 

Other good sources of rest are, quiet reading, light outdoor exercise, talking to a friend and taking time to be with the family.  Try doing some gardening, this way you get your relaxation, exercise, air, sunshine and some good veggies for your nutrition!

Worry also pulls a person down and is not good for our health. It can cause insomnia, tension, loss of confidence, depression and sluggishness. Another great enemy is guilt. Guilt is likened to the mind as pain is to the body. A guilty conscience makes a restless bed fellow. Reducing stress will let your mind rest. Trust and security help here.

Proper rest habits contribute to our quality of life. It also adds to the length of life. It improves mental and physical efficiency. During rest, your body is replenished, waste products are removed and your body systems are re-energised. You are preparing for renewed activity for the day to come.

Early to bed, early to rise makes a person healthy and wise.