Having A Rest Day (Or Few).

One thing I always struggle with is taking time off. And when I say that, I don't mean in the sense of a holiday, I mean in the sense of taking time for me. I do my best to work every day that I can, every hour that I can, because I have a massive need to provide for myself and my family, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Sadly, working 24/7 often leads to me becoming stressed out, becoming upset and eventually all but burning out. I become physically ill, and find myself shattered more days than I'm not. So once a week (at least) I try to take a day that's just for me. I'll laze around on the sofa, read a book, drink a good few cups of tea, and generally heal myself. One massive issue with this, however, is the people who seem to think they can judge me. A few years ago, I made the mistake of publishing the fact that I was having a rest day on Facebook. Most people were supportive, a few asked what book I was reading, and a couple of people decided to slag me off. I rarely prioritise my health as it is, and when I need a rest it is because I have done far too much. 

Take this week just gone, for example. Monday I was at work, Tuesday I was at work, and Thursday I was at work. On Wednesday I had plans with friends and on Friday I planned to clear my entire flat and catch up on this week's blog. All went to plan until Thursday evening, when I felt myself becoming a bit bunged up. Friday morning arrived, and I was physically ill - sore throat, headache, joint pain, the lot. I managed to make it to the sofa and dozed off there until the middle of the day, when I had an appointment with a friend. After several cups of strong tea, I felt better, but today is the first day I've been able to properly function.

This is why rest days are important for me. If I had taken a rest day on Wednesday, perhaps I wouldn't have been physically ill. The simple act of slowing down would have helped me to refuel, regroup, and find a way to cope with the manic nature of my job without feeling unwell. For those who want to know, I'm a care support worker (halfway between a HCA and a nurse) and I deal with learning disabilities at the moment. This can include challenging behaviour, so I'm sure most people will appreciate that it isn't exactly an easy job.

So, what have I learned from this? Well, the same thing I learn every time - new limits. I've learned I can only do so much before I need to rest, and I've learned that strong tea and books solve most problems. On that note, the new blog will be up on Tuesday as per the schedule. Please don't post troll comments on this as it's pointless (your comment will be removed by the moderator), but feel free to share your tips for effective rest!