Rest- Can You Really commit?
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Time to read 3 min
Well friends, 2024 is wrapped up and 2025 is settling in. 2024 was such a full circle year for me. It repaved the road to my goals and also to who I am at heart. I’m grateful to be here in 2025. While the calendar is still fresh, this is a time where I'm always motivated by a clean slate and I'm promising to take better care of me...which really means will I include rest on my to-do list this year?
Because, are we resting?
A few months back, I went to Tulum with a few friends. A very quick but impactful trip. During the trip, we spent a day a beach club, most of us hung by the pool, chatted, snacked and drank, you know all the good things. However one person that we went with, was tasked with watching our area while we did all the things. Mid pool dive, I looked over and said “oh I should give him a break and switch in case he wants to hit the beach etc.
"So, I pop over and ask, "hey do you want to switch? I can watch the things!”
His response, “no, I’m fine.”
For a while, I was confused, because why wouldn’t he want to hit the beach, the pool, or anything other than just sit here and have a drink?!!” And then a light bulb went off for me!
He’s resting!
That’s when I realized the actual idea of rest was foreign to me, that I didn’t realize he was perfectly fine resting there in that spot. The exact thing I thought he might be bored of was actually REST! He was resting!
I was shook.
I was so disappointed in myself. Was I that out of touch that “rest” didn’t resonate with me? Was I that “fake busy” all the time that I couldn’t recognize rest.. and even more- that I couldn’t recognize that it was absolutely okay, to do nothing at all.
That moment created such a shift in my perspective. How was it that I couldn’t recognize rest? In that moment I decided to be intentional on creating pockets of rest for myself.
In order to create intentional rest, the first thing I did was figure out what rest really meant. Here’s what I learned:
Rest- an instance or period of relaxing or ceasing to engage in strenuous or stressful activity. (Heavy on the stressful activity)
(I needed a little more)
Relaxing- reducing tension or anxiety.
So, I took these two definitions and thought really hard, then I decided to make an intentional plan. Here is how I am implementing rest into my life and a few ways you can too:
Slowing down.
Pick a day of the week and commit to having a slower start. Maybe replace the shower with an extended bath, or read a bit before jumping out of bed. Personally on Sundays I like to sleep in a little longer and read before getting out of bed.
Have dinner out.
It's the the beginning of the year, I always make a list of new restaurants I want to try and I make an effort to complete the list by end of the year. Select a local place or somewhere you have always wanted to try and make a reservation. Remember the goal is for this to be a leisure activity. Don’t add any pressure.
Take a trip
Domestic or international but, plan the trip. I want to remind you again, that the goal is to rest. So, plan something that gives you an opportunity to do that. Don’t fill your days with excursions and adventure, opt for ultimate relaxation.
image from pinterest
Final Thoughts
Rest is an important concept that many of us push off. We are allowed to rest, as often as possible. I encourage you to become very familiar with rest. After all, it is our right to rest just as it is our responsibility to work and perform.
We want to know, how to you plan to unwind and implement rest?
Send us a note - “This month I plan to implement more rest by…….”
Can’t wait to hear from you.
-xoxo
Kianna S.
The Author: Kianna Shann
Kianna Shann is the ultimate multitasker, blending creativity, motherhood, and entrepreneurship with ease. As Weslynn’s mom and Creative Director, she wears many hats—owner of Mini Luxxe Soft Play, A Little Luxxe, and SWM the Label—while also sharing her voice as a writer for KM. Kianna’s approach to life and business is all about creating balance and intention, whether it’s through play, thoughtful gifts, or self-care.
Her writing on the Zen & Zest blog captures the realness of juggling it all—inviting readers to slow down, embrace their own rituals, and live mindfully, all while chasing their dreams.
