Why You Still Feel Tired After Resting

You finally sit down at night. You got everyone off to school, went to work, came home, cooked dinner, cleaned up, and then you finally get a minute to breathe. You are scrolling on your phone, your TV is on thebackground with your favorite trash reality show, you have a candle lit and thelights down. You are seemingly resting….right? Well, why do you still feel so tired? Why is your body still holding so much tension, despite you laying down?Why do you still feel SO tired after resting? Because you’re not really resting.

When we scroll on our phones, binge-watch that new show, or get lost in a video game, we are actually just “numbing-out” as opposed to getting true restorative rest.

Numbing-out gives us a moment of freedom from reality but is not at all effective in providing our minds (and our bodies!) with the necessary break our nervous systems need in order to function properly.

In comparison, restorative rest requires a slower approach. Restorative rest might involve mindfully breathing, or going for a walk without music, or stretching our body in silence. This will not feel comfortable at first after spending years filling every free moment with some form of external stimulation, but it will help heal the nervous system by allowing it a moment to recharge.

Common signs of nervous system exhaustion and emotionaldepletion might be:

·      Mental health symptoms such as anxiety,depression, apathy, or inability to focus

·      Physical symptoms such as chronic pain, trouble sleeping, or stomach issues

·      Interpersonal issues such as irritability andanger towards others, difficulty managing conflict, or inability to maintain relationships

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If this sounds like you, there are some ways to help reverse nervous system exhaustion and emotional depletion. These techniques may take practice, but incorporating them into your daily life could help:

1.     Utilizing Somatic Grounding: progressive muscle relaxation guided meditations (YouTube is great for this!), engaging in gentle movement such as stretching or slow yoga, completing grounding exercisessuch as the 5-4-3-2-1 method.

2.     Energy Management and Self Care: promoting restorative sleep hygiene, prioritizing balanced nutrition, and reducingexternal sensory inputs.

3.     Seek Connection and Support: make effort to spend positive, quality time with loved ones who help you seek restorative rest (maybe try a meditation class together!)

By utilizing these gentle coping strategies and providing yourself withself-compassion that is free of shame, you can help to heal your nervous systemand reach a positive mind/body state. We don’t need to be constantly moving all the time or having two screens in front of us at once. You are worthy of giving yourself a break.

‍You deserve restorative rest because it is non-negotiable and necessary to promote healing and growth.

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