Sometimes, we’re on a roll, consistent, life is good and we’re smooth sailing. But sometimes, we can get off track and it immediately summons our inner critic. When we let our inner critic take the lead we are less likely to get back on track, but I’ve found a method to help me curb this habit.
Practicing mindfulness has freed me from this old pattern. When you are mindful, you are more in tune and honest about your needs. You are more forgiving towards yourself. Instead of judging yourself, you begin to question why you got off track in the first place. It is usually because there is some underlying stress that you need to attend to. It is usually a time that you need to slow down.
When I got off track my inner critic used to tell me I would lose my progress or that I was running out of time. It used to tell me that unless I was burned out and exhausted that I hadn’t done enough, been enough. I used to think that rest was earned instead of it being a basic human need.
I knew this was a narrative I needed to rewrite or I would continuously reside in this cycle of getting off track and not only struggling to get back on track, but sometimes giving up completely.
What has helped me recently is acknowledging that I am in need of time off from my routine and then granting myself permission to rest. When you remain mindful in your space of rest, you are in control, not your inner critic.
In the past I would feel guilty for resting which caused unnecessary stress and the following day I felt like I would have to overcompensate for all the time I had “wasted.” This would cause me to overcommit and throw me on the fast track to burnout, further deterring my progress.
Before practicing mindfulness on my off days, I would easily get lost in the noise of social media. I would spend hours, sometimes losing track of time, on social media. At the end of those days, I felt anything but rested and recharged. I felt anxious and hesitant about returning to my regular routine.
As we know, social media mostly showcases the good part of people’s lives. The parts of their lives they have worked on and choose to put on display for the world to see. This is not all necessarily a bad thing, but what we don’t see often enough is the importance of rest and overall balance. The grind is important, but not at the expense of your mental health.
Now when I’m feeling extremely out of my element I like to slow down. I give myself the rest I need or the day to take photos, to read, to play video games. I also limit my use on social media. I found this practice to be very effective because it made me feel ready and excited and excited to get back on track. I’m able to smash all of my goals with more energy and motivation than I did before.
I’m not going to tell you how to spend your rest day because I don’t know what your mind, body and soul needs, but I will tell you that not all rest days are created equal. Your rest day can set you up for success or failure.
Things to keep in mind for a effective rest day:
– Be mindful in your decision to rest so that your inner critic isn’t holding the reins
– Give yourself permission to rest and stand firm in the knowing that rest is not something that is earned
– Tune into your needs. What can you do to relax your mind, body and soul?
– Limit your social media use. Probably the worst thing you can do on a rest day where you are meant to decompress
– This might sound counterintuitive for a rest day, but plan your next productive day. Write down your goals. When we silence everything else, the things important to us stand out more
Good luck and rest easy, friends <3
Love & Light,
Cindy Natalia
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