What REAL REST LOOKS LIKE

Rest is often treated as a selfish indulgence; something we should only turn to when we're totally depleted. But what if true rest begins before exhaustion sets in – as an enjoyable and proactive way to improve our health, mood and productivity? These science-backed suggestions are designed to do just that.

- Pnina Fenster

You know you should stop working. Instead, you eat dinner at your desk and keep chipping away at what feels like a never-ending to-do list. You feel flat and overwhelmed, but you tell yourself you're fine. You fall into bed, then scroll numbly for two hours. The next morning, you hit snooze once (or twice), grab a coffee (or two), then keep going with the help of vaping, cupcakes or (fill in your go-to fix). Sleeping, comfort-eating and binge-watching feature prominently on weekends. And when you finally take a holiday, you fall ill or waste time worrying about work and money.

If any of the above sounds uncomfortably familiar, you're not alone. ‘Chronic stress has become the baseline rather than the exception, with more than 80% of workers reporting that they experience stress at work,’ says Jeffrey Pfeffer, professor of organisational behaviour at Stanford University.

But from ‘don’t waste time’ to ‘don’t be lazy’, our culture still applauds busyness, social media glorifies success (even if we know plenty of it is inauthentic), news cycles accelerate, and there's a widespread expectation that whatever our circumstances, we should be constantly plugged in and responsive.

The result is a level of pressure that seeps into everything from our cardiovascular health to our relationships, making deliberate downtime as fundamental as nutrition and movement.

Why rest matters

‘Rest really is a matter of life and death,’ says Dr Jamie Richards, founder of Life By Design.

‘It strengthens the immune system, sharpens memory and creativity, steadies mental health, and lowers blood pressure and diabetic risk. It plays a role in regulating chronic inflammation, which lies at the core of many chronic health conditions. It’s linked to greater longevity. And in case that wasn’t enough, it benefits our metabolism and skin — and, most importantly, it feels amazing.’