Embracing Rest This Festive Season: Human Being Over Human Doing

Parties, shopping, cooking, travelling… the festive season has a way of turning time on its head, and trying to cram in double the amount of activities we’re used to. And while the sparkle and cheer are wonderful, it’s easy to forget that one of the most healing acts we can gift ourselves is actually just rest! And rest is not one thing (it’s actually 7!) and finding time for pockets of all of those reconnects us with the joy of simply being

We live in a culture that glorifies doing - being busy is somehow a badge of honour. But our bodies, and our brains, have evolved for periods of activity and inactivity. Leaning into rest isn’t lazy, it’s essential. Let’s unpack the science behind different types of rest and how they help us thrive.

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1. Physical Rest: More Than Just Sleep

Most of us think rest means sleep - and sleep is undeniably vital. But physical rest goes beyond shutting your eyes. It includes gentle movement like stretching, yoga, or even a slow stroll outdoors. Here’s why it matters:

• When muscles are used, they then need to repair - this is how strength and resilience are built. Adequate rest allows the body to recover and prevents fatigue, those irritating niggles and injury.
  
  
• Sleep is the ultimate restorative phase: growth hormone peaks at night, tissue repair occurs, and inflammatory markers reduce.
  
  
• Even brief periods of lying down, or ‘mini-breaks’ during the day, help reduce cortisol, your stress hormone, which can otherwise run your immune system ragged. Bonus points - get your feet above your head and heart, this immediately resets your system.
  
  

Tip: Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep, and sprinkle in 10-15 micro-breaks to pause during hectic days. 

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2. Mental Rest: Giving the Brain a Breather

Our brains are constantly firing, processing, planning, and worrying. Mental rest isn’t just downtime, it’s active repair:

• The brain consolidates memory and clears out metabolic waste during deep sleep and quiet moments, improving learning and focus.
  
  
• Mind-wandering, daydreaming, or even staring out the window might seem unproductive - but these are forms of restorative mental rest that allow creativity to flourish. Turning off actually makes us more able to turn on.
  
  
• Overloaded brains trigger the ‘fight or flight’ response, elevating cortisol and adrenaline. Chronic exposure will impact digestion, immunity, and your mood.
  
  

Tip: Schedule in moments of staring into space (yes really), go for a walk without headphones or other distractions, and read something fictional (not on a screen) in dim light in the evening to wind your brain down. 

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3. Emotional Rest: Permission to Feel

Emotional rest is often overlooked. It’s the act of giving yourself space to process feelings without judgement or distraction:

• Bottling up emotions triggers stress responses in the body, affecting heart rate, digestion, appetite signals, and sleep quality.
  
  
• Becoming more aware of your true feelings through journaling, talking to a trusted friend, or simply sitting quietly allows the nervous system to reset.
  
  
• Emotional rest nurtures resilience: when the mind isn’t in constant survival mode, you’re better able to connect, empathise, and enjoy the festive moments fully.
  
  

Tip: Give yourself permission to step back from overwhelming situations or social pressures. Feel hungover after parties even when you haven’t been drinking? You need to refill that emotional battery! A quiet evening with a warm drink, a bath, or just chilling out and watching something fun on TV can be as restorative as a full night’s sleep. (they’ll also enhance your sleep too!)

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My Top Tips for Festive Rest

• Prioritise sleep: Treat it like an essential appointment, not negotiable.
  
  
• Mix rest types: Combine physical, mental, and emotional rest in your day for complete rejuvenation.
  
  
• Create micro-habits: Even two minutes of deep breathing or stretching counts.
  
  
• Reduce digital noise: Turn off notifications for a few hours or have a screen-free meal.
  
  

Embrace being: Allow yourself to simply sit, savour a cup of tea, watch the snow (here’s hoping!), or listen to music - without any agenda. You might find it’s actually hard at first, but the more mini ‘being’ breaks you add into your day, the easier it gets!