For the One Struggling to Take a Rest & Recovery Day: FREE Printables

Join me for 3 questions to consider the next time you need a rest and recovery day, but are struggling to accept that. Plus, I’m sharing free printable resources to help you brainstorm a “menu of activities” for your next recovery day, solo retreat, or Sabbath day of rest!

I had a hard time getting out of bed today. My head screamed,

“It’s Monday! Let’s grab this week by the horns and get schtuff done.”

My body on the other hand said,

“Nope, nope, nope. We feel like we’ve been hit by a truck. We ain’t doin’ much of anything right now. STAY IN BED!”

Our family had had a full, long weekend–a wonderful one–but a full one. It involved a trip out of town and putting on a Fancy Nancy themed birthday party for the girls and snorkeling practice and putting the house back together upon our return.

This morning, my body was asking for some downtime–understandably–but my head had a hard time accepting that.

You see, on days like these, my default mode is to beat myself up for not being more productive and to feel shame around my need for rest and recovery time.

I’ve felt this need for rest and recovery time more palpably in the last year as I’ve started meeting regularly with a counselor and spiritual director–and have been diving into some intense emotional recovery work in my reGROUP community. It turns out that feeling my feelings is exhausting work–and takes the energy right out of me. No matter what else is on my list for that day, I’m not getting much “done” besides making another cup of coffee, getting in my pajama pants, and watching another episode of All Creatures Great & Small.

Now, I love our family Sabbath day–a 24 hour period of rest from our paid and unpaid work. We have been making space of it every week for almost 9 years now...and it’s without a doubt my favorite day of the week.

But you know what I don’t love? Actually needing rest when I haven’t planned for it. Actually admitting I am a human with limits and not a pink battery-powered mechanical bunny with cool shades. (Token child of the 80s reference.)

I struggle to give myself permission to SLOW DOWN, leave lists unchecked, and receive the rest my body asks of me.

Does this ring true for you? If so, I raise my iced caramel latte your way. And I want to share 3 gentle questions for us to consider the next time we need a rest and recovery day, but are struggling to accept that.

3 Questions for when You’re Struggling to Take a Rest & Recovery Day:

A Practical Next Step & FREE PRINTABLE RESOURCE

Instead of being surprised or ashamed when we need rest, what if we built recovery time into our lives? And set aside time for mini-Sabbaths after full weekends and sessions with our counselors, spiritual directors, or recovery groups?

For me, even something as simple as creating some space for a soak in the bathtub, a bike ride, or cup of coffee on the porch swing could be such a gift to give myself.

As a practical next step to this end, I created a “Rest & Recovery Menu of Activities” printable. And then, I filled it out with some life-giving activities to choose from, so I don’t just numb out, scrolling my phone for hours, which is the all-too-easy-option for me.

I’ve actually drawn out “menu of activities” to choose from just like this in my journals in the past to help guide our family Sabbath days or prepare for a solo retreat. It can be overwhelming to be facing a 24 hour Sabbath or retreat with just wide open “free time.” So, a “menu of activities” helps to offer a starting point of inspiration while maintaining the spirit of freedom that feels so core to days of rest!

Here’s what’s written on my list thus far:

• go on a walk or bike ride
• soak in the tub
• paint with watercolors
• get lost in some fiction
• 10 minutes of gentle flow yoga
• sip coffee on the porch swing
• connect with a friend
• breath prayer by candlelight
• treat yo’self to a pedicure

And I left a few blanks so I can add to it as new ideas strike! But I’m planning to hang this up by my bedroom desk so I can easily reference it the next time I’m needing some rest and recovery time.

If you’d like to take this same practical next step toward embracing rest and want to brainstorm your own menu of activities, I have a FREE printable pack for you! It includes four different header options so you can adapt this brainstorming exercise to your specific needs:

• Rest & Recovery
• Sabbath Rest
• Solo Retreat
• Unplugged Fun

Nab all four printable PDFs by signing up for my monthly-ish email newsletter in the form below:

Here are a few guiding questions to help you in your brainstorming process:

• What activities are restful and calming for your body?
• What activities are restful and calming to your mind?
• What activities are restful that engage your creativity? (art, crafting, journaling, gardening, cooking, music, dance, etc.)
• What are activities are restful that connect you with God? (getting outdoors in creation, contemplative prayer, Bible Journaling, listening to scripture or sermons, singing worship music, journaling, etc.)
• Do you prefer restful activities done solo or in community? Whatever is your default, try adding at least one from the opposite category.
• If you could plan your own “best day ever,” from wake up to bedtime, what would you plan?
• What activities sound FUN and life-giving to you?

Your Turn

Dear reader, I would love to hear your thoughts on rest and recovery days in the comments, especially if this post resonated with you.

This is all still very much in process for me, lest I give any impression “I’ve arrived.” I imagine I’ll battle the instinct to strive after external metrics for success for much of my life, but I do hope to strive less and less as God does His transforming work on my heart.

May we spur one another on in this journey of believing in our enough-ness as children of a God who calls us beloved simply because we’re His.

P.S. How cool is this shirt by @TWLOHA?! It was a 40th birthday gift from my friend Johanna, and I wear it to remind myself of the truths it professes.