Giving Permission to Rest (Replenish)

When a client comes into your session stressed, anxious or burnt out, there are many suggestions you could give to help them, but one of the safest and simplest is rest. Rest is, of course, not the answer to all problems, but most people find that rest allows the answer to a situation to become clearer, the journey ahead to feel more hopeful, and gained strength needed to grow. 

Recovery Phase

Recently, I’ve been working with a client in ministry who has been through significant trauma and is in the recovery phase. A member of his team said, “You should take a morning off to sit in the park, read your Bible and pray.” My client agreed this would be helpful but felt he had too much work to do and would feel guilty taking the morning off. We explored why this was needed and how to do this. I helped him rephrase his language and thinking; there was a greater purpose to his time out of the office. Taking the morning to reflect, spend some time with God, and refill his tank should be part of his work, and we should all be allowed to add regenerative time to our diaries. We may feel pressure from others or ourselves to keep pushing, to work harder, to achieve our goals as quickly as possible, but this will only lead to burnout. If our life is like a long car trip, we need to plan stops along the way to refuel. Stopping for petrol is necessary to keep going; similarly, stopping for rest is what will allow us to reach our goals. 

At the beginning of each week, I take some time to reflect on the previous week and look towards the next one. As part of this, I always ask myself, what of my week has been generative and what has been regenerative? How will I include generative and regenerative activities and time into the approaching week? 

Types of Rest

Generative and regenerative are both types of rest, but they provide different results. Generative rest involves engaging in activities that are both relaxing and constructive. This might be taking a class, working on a hobby or travelling to a different place. It is a way to grow as a person while also doing something low-pressure and enjoyable. 

On the other hand, there is regenerative rest. This might include a quiet night in, reading a book or watching a film. It may mean going to bed early. It could mean a quiet walk and time with God. This sort of rest is meant to rebuild your buoyancy. 

Some activities combine the two. I find that time spent playing guitar with friends is both regenerative (good for my soul) and generative (expanding my musical competency, learning new skills and making new friends). Both are essential for creating a sustainable life. 

Reflection Questions:

• When did I last take time for generative rest? What did this look like? 
• When did I last take time for regenerative rest? What did this look like? 
• How can I structure my time to allow for more rest when I need it?