Rest isn’t laziness!!!!! I feel like it’s as much fuel as eating right is to keep going. Too often, we think that rest only means sleep, but real rest comes in many forms: physical, mental, emotional, and even creative. Even if you’re doing the things you really love (be it your creative outlet, working out, keeping the family together so that no one kills each other, etc. Sometimes you need to stop and take a break for your OWN well-being. Once a week, I make it a point to create space for deeper rest, the kind that leaves me feeling more like myself, like I’m WHOLE again.

Here are the rituals I use to give myself the pause I deserve, because sometimes the best way to move forward is to slow down.

1. The Unplugged Hour

At least once or twice a week, I take an hour completely away from screens. No phone, no TV, no computer. I sit outside, read a book, or simply breathe. I try to do this once during the week because for me, that’s when the pressure is the greatest, and once over the weekends because that’s what weekends are meant for. If you haven’t done this, I’m going to warn you that the quiet feels strange at first, but then it feels like freedom.

My tip: I light candles before I unplug—it signals to my brain that this hour is something special. To be fair, I often do this out on my patio, where I have battery-powered candles set up on the table so that all I have to do is turn them on. I sit in the glow of the candles, smell the wood burning from a neighbor’s fire pit, and just relax.

What I Use: I’ve had these candles on my outdoor dining table for a long time. I bought some on Amazon.com and others at Home Goods. I’ve collected them in different sizes, but this is basically what I use – Candles. This way I don’t worry about my grandson getting burned when I use them for our dinners as well.

2. The Afternoon Pause

Not quite a nap, not quite busywork, just a pause. Once a week, I let myself sit down in the middle of the day with no agenda. Maybe I close my eyes, sip tea slowly, or just let my mind wander. It’s amazing how much energy returns afterward.

My tip: I make it special by doing something I normally don’t do. Being a coffee drinker every day, I make this my iced tea time.

What I Use: I discovered Tea Forte when I was on a Celebrity Cruise in their coffee shop, and now I take the time and make my iced tea with their method. I don’t always use their tea (I like buying loose teas when I travel and just brought home both Goji and some Happy Tea when I was in Cozumel last month, and have been enjoying those).

3. Rest Through Breath

Rest isn’t always about lying down. Once a week, I take ten minutes to focus on nothing but breathing. Slow inhales, long exhales. It’s the quickest way to rest my nervous system and calm racing thoughts.

My tip: Find a breathing pattern or mantra that works for you. While I use a very specific one, rest and meditation are not one-size-fits-all.

What I Use: For those who don’t know my past, I was in Divine Light Mission and still use the same meditation technique that I learned back in the 1970s.

4. A Gentle Evening

Once a week, I give myself permission to have a completely gentle evening. No cooking, no chores, no rushing. Dinner might be something simple, pajamas go on early, and I let the night be soft.

My tip: I always pair this with my favorite music or TV show, usually something mellow that makes the evening feel like a retreat or something indulgent that my husband won’t watch (I go in a separate room for ME time).

What I Use: I’m going to be honest here, I love running into our local grocery store (Publix) for a PubSub. You may not have grocery store subs where you live, but I’m sure you have the equivalent. Something easy, not fancy, but hits the spot.

5. Rest That Isn’t Sleep

Rest can also mean joy. Once a week, I rest my mind by doing something restorative. It might be picking up a hobby, walking slowly, or simply sitting with a cup of tea and no interruptions. This kind of rest fills me up in a way sleep alone never could.

My tip: Create a “rest basket” with a book, a journal, and hand cream. When I grab it, I know I’m entering rest mode.

What I Use: I keep things tucked into one of my favorite French Market Baskets that I’ve had for years (I collect them). They feel special and can hold my silly bunny slippers, the book that I’m reading, and more. I also keep Peppermint Patties in the freezer for an extra special treat.

Wrapping It Up

Rest isn’t just the absence of activity—it’s the presence of renewal. With small weekly rituals—an unplugged hour, an afternoon pause, a breath practice, a gentle evening, or joyful downtime—you give yourself permission to recharge in every way.

Because when you rest deeply, you don’t just sleep better—you live better.