By Living Room Realty, December 14, 2021
Just around the bend is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. Here in Portland we feel that all too well when the daylight hours tend to expire just after 4pm. And while many folks are dipping back into some of the familiar festivities of the holiday season, it is always a good time to hear the gentle reminder that if you are tired, exhausted, overwhelmed, not feeling particularly festive, or feel pressured to do more than your system wants, it’s probably because this time of year is a time when our mammalian selves are needing more and more rest. i.e. ~ that is perfectly normal!!
I read a great quote recently that I will paraphrase here ~ we don’t need to earn rest, it’s not a reward or a prize for working so very hard. We are allowed to rest, simply because we are human, without any justification.
In other words, resting is part of being human in this earthly journey and all too often society tells us otherwise.
So, how to rest, when the world is asking of us at record speed? Here is a smattering of my favorite ideas:
-Turn off the lights, light a candle, lay on the floor. Stretch, roll around, lay on a pile of pillows, wrap up in a blanket. Stare at the wall, put your feet on the wall, feel the texture of the rug or carpet or furniture upholstery, lay as still as possible and listen to your own heartbeat or breath…
-Turn OFF (like all the way off) your phone, computer, tv, etc. Not forever, just for 20 minutes or maybe an hour? Tell family members you’re doing this so no one panics. What does it feel like to not have electronic visual/audio stimulation for a bit?
-Cuddle with someone in your covid pod/bubble/someone you feel safe with. Cuddle with your pets. Hold hands. (you can hold hands and wear masks!)
-Take a bath with 4lbs of Epsom salts (yes, the whole package). You’ll feel the difference. Just don’t get it in your eyes!
-Ask for what you need: space, quiet, 20 minutes of alone time, a room to be in, a break from talking if that feels nourishing. Ask for help from family to achieve some restful moments (maybe your spouse or oldest child takes over for half an hour?) and try to return the favor when you are feeling more resourced and recharged.
-Bundle up and sit outside, feel the cool air, rain on your face, gaze at the trees, notice what is growing (and blooming!) this time of year. Take a slow slow walk around your yard. Look at the corners of the space and visit the places you typically don’t. Consider the natural adventure at your doorstep!
Rest can look like so many things, but my favorite go-to’s involve less light, less sound, less “input”, and laying on a firm surface to feel my body stretch. It doesn’t have to be a yoga class, a podcast, Netflix or a “spa day” or maybe it can be those things. It’s going to be what works for you, the things you will naturally do and are already drawn towards. But finding the ways to quiet the mind and listen for what the body is calling for will help us slow down to the natural rhythm of the season and allow us to embrace winter’s darkness and the deep nourishment it provides.
Wishing you deep rest, deep breaths and ease in finding your daily pockets of rest 
