The Hard Work of Rest

I wouldn't call myself a work-aholic.  Maybe I am and don't know it.  Denial is the first sign of, well, everything bad.  But I don't work 24/7 and I don't constantly think about work.  So....why does it feel like I do?

I began examining these things recently.  It seemed there were never enough hours in the day.  Even while sacrificing sleep and Oprah, I couldn't find enough time to do everything.  Even while multi-tasking myself to death, I never felt anything was ever completed.  By the time I finished the week's laundry, a new week started and I was back to doing laundry again.  It baffled me because I can be very plan-oriented when I want to be.  For instance, when I know I'm about to enter into a long conversation with someone by phone, I think, "This'll be the perfect time to sort laundry."

But I realized not too long ago that I was getting to an almost frenzied state of multi-tasking.  This occurred to me one day during a live radio interview.  I was discussing my book and the interviewer was talking about how much she liked it.  We were having a very pleasant conversation when suddenly I reached for my mouse to check my e-mail.  As I scanned the messages, my mind came to a screeching halt.  What am I doing??  Checking my e-mail during a live radio interview?  Was I nuts?

Yes, I concluded.  I am nuts.  And that's what started me down the path back to sanity.  With God's help, I began unlocking some interesting perspective.  Why, for instance, no matter how hard I work, nothing ever gets done?

The Lord revealed to me that I have no beginning and end because I have no rest.  Rest, with a capital R, started me on a journey.  Before then, I would've said that yes, I get plenty of rest.  I sit down and watch t.v.  I read at night.  I'll drink Dr. Pepper at 3 p.m.

But what I realized is that my life was one, constant motion.  Work began to be play and play became work.  I enjoy writing a lot, so working on a Saturday or Sunday didn't seem like work.  But writing is my job and no matter how much I like it, I need to take a step away from it.

I also began to redefine rest.  For some people, like my husband for instance, rest is sitting on a couch all day long and watching sporting event after sporting event.  He can also sit on a couch and stare at a wall, perfectly content.

I can't sit on the couch at all.  Drives me nuts.  I have to be doing something, like filing or sorting school work or paying bills or doing my stretches.

But what I realized is that rest is different for everyone.  This weekend I spent two days cleaning out my garage and completely reorganizing it.  This is rest to me.  Why?  Because it's not mentally taxing.  I spend all week working my brain to death, so when I can pour myself into something physical, that's a nice break for me.  For someone who works in a physically demanding job, spending the weekend working on a book is a nice break.

What became important to me is for things to start and end.   I now take a lunch break, where I sit down for fifteen minutes away from my computer.  Before I would eat lunch while checking my e-mail or doing some editing. 

At 3:30 p.m, when I pick my kids up from school, work ends and doesn't begin until the next morning.

I've committed myself to not work on the weekend.  I don't do any writing or editing, and do very limited e-mailing.  Friday work ends.  Monday work begins.  A beginning and an end.

I don't check my e-mail before bed time.  Bed time is the beginning of nightly rest.  In the morning, nightly rest ends and work begins.

For some people, this may seem very obvious, but for me, it comes about only by discipline.  For years and years I have poured myself into writing, with great pleasure.  But it took its toll, and now I must re-learn the basics of living a healthy, balanced life.  And it's no easy task for me.  It's the hard work of learning to rest again!

Comments

[Rachel Hauck]

Great post, Rene. And congratulations! It takes a lot of discipline to not check email constantly, on weekends and before bed.

I'm finally getting there myself, and you've renewed my inspiration to make it happen. I so relate to your post!

I don't even have kids and I feel like I'm restarting laundry just as I'm finishing up last weeks. LOL.

But, I'm getting there, praise God. :) Thanks for the reminder!

Rachel

[Ginny Smith]

A great reminder. We can all learn from your decision to make time for rest.

I'm impressed that you do laundry and still write such great books! Don't tell my husband that, okay? He's become the Laundry King at our house since I started writing full time.

[Elizabeth]

I am pretty sure I have never heard cleaning the garage referred to as "rest" before. Any time you need a vacation, my home is open to you!

Elizabeth

[Deena @ My Bookshelf]

Good post!