The Art of Rest: How to Let Your Body and Mind Heal

When you’re overwhelmed, don’t do more—do less.

Whenever life starts to feel overwhelmingly hectic, our first instinct is often to do anything but rest.

Most of us try to work even harder or plan our weekends full of activities.

The art of rest is something we all have to learn.

Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, said it best in his book The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching:

“When we humans get sick, we just worry! We look for doctors and medicine, but we don’t stop. Even when we go to the beach or the mountains for a vacation, we don’t rest, and we come back more tired than before. We have to learn to rest.”

Taking time out for healing and renewal is important not only for the body but also for the mind. Rest — in whatever form it takes — is an art that can help to restore energy, sharpen our insight and bring a greater level of balance into our lives.

Rest helps us to recharge our batteries so that we can make the most of our lives. Research shows it can also help to reduce stress levels and…