I was in Destin with two of my best friends for the last week. It’s always incredible to be in their presence and being with them on a beautiful white sand beach with crystal clear turquoise water is a bonus.
I drove home from Destin yesterday feeling restored by our time together.
After about 2 days with them, I noticed myself humming and singing a lot which is a sign to me that I am feeling very content in life’s simple pleasures.
Over the last 6 months, I went way outside of my comfort zone with my business, said yes to way too many things, and as a result, ended up completely depleted.
When life is stressful or we push ourselves too hard for too long, and we deplete our reserves, we need more than rest, we need restoration.
I think of it like a phone when the battery is so dead you have to plug it in for a long time before the phone will turn on again. If you don’t let it charge enough, the battery will die again quickly.
That was me on October 11th. My battery and reserves were depleted and it took me a month of self-care, rest, and restoration to start to feel like myself again. Even after a month I still have a ways to go before my restorative activities become rejuvenating.
Here’s how I determine where I am energetically and what I need:
Self Care – Taking care of yourself, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Getting enough rest, eating well, engaging in regular exercise, managing stress, and taking time for hobbies and interests that bring you joy. I think of self-care as my minimum baseline for meeting my needs.
Rest – Rest refers to a state of physical or mental inactivity where you take a break from your regular activities or work. It’s a period of relaxation that allows your body and mind to recover from fatigue, stress, or exertion. Rest can include activities like sleeping, lounging, taking short naps, or simply doing things that require minimal effort.
Restoration: Sometimes you can’t sleep enough to recharge your battery. Restoration goes beyond rest. It brings you back to balance when you’ve been depleted physically, mentally, or emotionally. Activities like hobbies, spending time in nature, practicing mindfulness or meditation, sound baths, yoga, breathwork, spending quality time with pets, friends, loved ones, and more. Restoration aims to bring you back to a state of optimal functioning, not just by relaxing but by actively participating in activities that bring you joy, reduce stress, and boost your overall wellness.
Rejuvenation: Rejuvenation goes beyond simply returning to a state of balance; it enhances and boosts your energy, vitality, zest for life, and overall well-being. Rejuvenation practices are proactive and invigorating, aimed at increasing your energy levels, enthusiasm, and zest for life. These practices often focus on nourishing not only your physical health but also your mental clarity and emotional resilience. The activities are the same as the ones listed under restoration.
You’ll notice that there’s some overlap in my descriptions and that’s because they’re all intricately connected. The difference between restoration and rejuvenation is how charged your battery is when you start.
If you’ve been under a lot of stress and not taking great care of yourself, then part of your self-care should include rest and restorative activities to help you get back in balance.
If you’re already in balance then those activities are rejuvenating and building up your reserves for when life gets challenging again.
Ongoing stressful situations might make you feel like restoration and rejuvenation are impossible for you to achieve.
The key is understanding the difference and paying enough attention to yourself to know what you need.
These are the things you have control over and can change your experience of your child’s addiction.
I invite you to spend some time identifying and moving toward what your mind, body, and spirit need from you.
