Pause—Creating a Physical Space of Rest

”Rest when you’re weary. Refresh and renew yourself, your body, your mind, your spirit. Then get back to work.”

~Ralph Marston~

”If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit.”

~Banksy~

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

~Matthew 11:28~

Let’s play a word association game. I say a word, and you notice the first word or words that come to mind.

Rest.

You might have thought, bed, sleep, nap, or something in that family. These all have something to do with letting your body take a break or lying down. In a way, that’s what I want to share about today, but the focus is giving your mind and emotions a break, not just your body. As entrepreneurs, we tend to push ourselves pretty hard. We often work long or strange hours, and things may be a little more disorganized or messy as a result. I know for myself, I work, play, and rest very differently when things are tidy than when they are messy. I am able to be at rest better when things are in their places and there isn’t an overflow of clutter. But don’t despair if you tend toward the messy side; this isn’t an organizing post. It’s about making a haven for yourself even in the midst of chaos.

Perhaps you have a house full of children or a partner, and it’s impossible for everything to be organized or clear all the time. Maybe it’s just you, but you are a more naturally messy or disorganized person. I get that. I am not saying every place in your home has to feel restful; that would be near impossible! What I am challenging you to do is to create one space—just one—in your home that is restful. Ideally outside of your bedroom, since the best way to promote your sleep is to just designate your bed and your bedroom for that and not spend a lot of time hanging out in there otherwise.

The best-case scenario would be to carve out a little space, maybe in a corner somewhere, a room, or a nook, where you can go and be at peace. Even if it’s a small space, decorate it with colors that make you feel calm and restful. Find a comfortable chair or beanbag or cushion, whatever your sitting style, that you can settle into for a little while and enjoy your time in your quiet place. It is good to foster that environment of comfort and safety because it sets the stage to cultivate peace in your mind and body. This is not only for times that you have to address tough topics or experience difficult emotions, but for everyday life, to be kind and compassionate to yourself, no matter what your day holds, and to give yourself a place to go.

For some, it may be hard to find a place like this in the house, and the bedroom may be the only option. If you can, make a space with some sort of chair rather than making it your bed, but if that’s what you have, use it. Get a throw pillow or two that you use just for this time, and keep them for you.

I have two spots that I use in this way. One of them is an outdoor location on my patio at the table, which is where I spend my mornings when I read my Bible and drink my coffee. Sometimes it’s too hot, since I live in Tucson, and I have to move myself inside. My inside spot is in my guest room, where I have created a peaceful space for myself. These spaces of rest help me to reset and have balance in my life, and makes me much more present when I do need to be productive. Try it out for yourself and see what that environment does for you. Feel free to share with me what happens; I would love to hear your stories!