How to Rest When You’re Restless

Written by Andrea Catherine Bachman

Even though you may be staying home more, and can tell yourself “I’m a year into the pandemic, and am used to it by now,” it may still feel really challenging to find calm, ease, and relaxation.

Due to the stressors of the past year, your body, like mine, may easily get stuck on overdrive mode. Your sympathetic nervous system – which wires you for fighting, fleeing, freezing or attaching - works overtime, and leads you to feeling depleted when you may have been sitting in the same chair all day, never having left the house.

Instead of getting down on yourself for why you don’t feel at ease, or why you haven’t figured this out yet, I invite you to consider that simply being in one place for a long time does not mean that you are actually resting. I invite you to consider a few simple steps to help you reconnect with your body by inviting rest amidst the uncertainty that is all around us. Rest can come to us in many ways -- though sleep, mindful breathing, gentle movement, a break from talking, or letting ourselves be unproductive, to name a few.

Try this 5-minute practice:

Clear a space on the floor in which you can stretch your body in all directions
Light a candle or turn on some peaceful music to help you tune into the present moment rather than your racing thoughts. I like the SPA lounge playlist on Spotify and anything by Beautiful Chorus.
Find a seated position in which your spine is upright and relaxed. You can use the support of a chair, couch at your back, or cushion under your sit bones.
Close your eyes or let your gaze cast downward, while keeping your chin parallel to the earth.
Notice your breath. Imagine your inhale coming in from the crown of your head, down your spine and into your belly and low back. Imagine your exhale moving through your tailbone toward the core of the earth. Do this for 5-10 breaths.
What’s shifting or changing for you? Perhaps it’s the quality of your breath or your body temperature. Maybe you’re noticing tension, or the release of tension in your body, or thoughts and emotions surfacing.
Let your body lead your movement. Invite a deep breath in and let it go with a sigh or sound. Let your body (not your mind or to-do list) guide you for a few more minutes. Move in any way your body is calling you. This might be gently circling your head and neck, finding a favorite Yoga pose, or even dancing intuitively to the music in the background.
Offer gratitude for this time you’ve created for yourself. Yes, It can be tempting to simply rush into the next part of your day. Pausing to feel into the treasure of this moment and getting clear on your intention for what’s ahead can help you bring the benefits of this restful moment into the rest of your day.

Reserving time for intentional rest in my day is the single most nourishing practice I have found. It helps me come back to understanding my real needs in the moment, not just what I think I should need or should be doing. Creating this space helps me be just a tiny bit more present in the moments that follow. This presence aids in my awareness of what could otherwise be mindless habits. It allows me to make just a few more decisions that leave me with a sense of power in my world, even when everything around me may feel like a mess.

If you found this nourishing and supportive and are wanting more, you might check out the Winter Rest workshop available for purchase, or book a free Strategy Session to explore working directly with me. Keep your eyes peeled for offerings virtually and at the ranch.

Meet Andrea

Andrea Catherine is a Wellness Coach and Yoga Facilitator, who helps folks move from overwhelm to ease through sustainable daily habits. She believes deeply in the possibility of Collective Wellness through Fearless Self-Love.
The wisdom of Yoga & Ayurveda, and the yearning for social justice, shape Andrea’s approach to coaching and facilitation. She’ll work with you to understand the relationship between your personal identities and wellness, as well as between your personal wellness and the wellness of our human collective. She believes we all deserve to live grounded, joyful, easeful lives we love, and ultimately be at home in our selves. Visit her website to learn more.