Find RestSample

Rest can look like many different types of things for many different types of people. There are some things that resting, or taking breaks, shouldn’t look like for anyone, however.

There are people I know who always have to be doing something. They come home from work and before they even take their work clothes off, they’re making dinner. They sit down for a moment, and text on their phone, check on their computer, and watch television all at the same time. To not be busy is in their eyes to be lazy.

Their busyness is often simply busyness though; there ceases to be anything actually productive about their actions. That is the key; by taking healthy, scheduled, breaks, we can actually accomplish more than when we don’t take breaks and rush through life and work in a flurry.

That also means our moments of rest need to be genuine though. Sitting on our sofa with our computer, phone, and television isn’t very restful. Rushing through our breaks doesn’t make our moment to stop very genuine either. My mother struggles with this. Genuine rest often escapes her; at least it did when I was younger. She always had something to do, and therefore, was always doing something.

As I notice how much I am like her, I struggle with this as well. I often do things too quickly, and in my rush to accomplish everything, nothing gets done well. Through reading John Brandon’s book, The 7 Minute Productivity Solution, I have learned to incorporate less rush and more schedule into each day. By having a wider understanding of my schedule, I am able to slow down and actually accomplish more things.

Rush is often closely connected to worry. We are worried we won’t accomplish everything, so we rush to get it all done. Jesus connects worry to time as well. In Matthew 6:34, he says, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Ask God to help you with your time, to schedule it well, to rest well, and to work well; he delights in helping his children.

To find out more about how to rest effectively, visit seveminutesolution.com. For more information and tips about working with purpose, read the new book, The 7-Minute Productivity Solution on Baker/Revell.