The Importance of Rest

Many moons ago, as I was completing a bachelor’s degree in Russian, the professors gathered the graduating students together and offered some counsel for the upcoming study abroad program in Leningrad and Moscow.  We would be in class all morning five days a week, but the rest of the time was ours for visiting museums, exploring parks, attending concerts, and making friends.  Because we would be there only two months, the temptation would be great to pack in as much as possible in our limited time.  This, they emphasized, was a very bad idea.

The study abroad programs in Leningrad and Moscow involved a drastically different climate, a distinctive society, experiences that would challenge us mentally, and let’s not even get started on the abrupt change in diet.  Overwhelming our bodies with these changes ran the real risk of getting us sick and ruining the experiences afforded this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  The professors strongly urged us to rest in our rooms every third day. 

I wasn’t totally convinced of the need for all this rest, but I didn’t want to get sick in a foreign country, especially the USSR, so I chose to heed their counsel.  I’m not sure it made a difference, but I do know that I didn’t get sick and I was very well rested during the experience.

Likewise, when the government and economy fail here, we may find ourselves in a totally different situation.  While the climate may remain the same for many of us, others may be affected by drastic changes in temperature, humidity, or altitude.  We’ll quite possibly be under a lot of stress, presented with some unfamiliar challenges, and meeting new people or more people than we are used to.  Some of those fortunate enough to have stored food but foolish enough to not use it regularly will be dealing with the intestinal distress that accompanies a drastic change in diet. 

Rest—it’s not just about getting enough sleep.  Unfortunately, the concept of rest has mostly been lost in American society.  It’s just not compatible with the go-go-go American lifestyle.  We’re some of the poorest patients on the planet when it comes to resting when ill or injured.  The Puritan work ethic that our parents instilled in us compels us to work when sick and keep plugging along even when injured.  Knowing there is the safety net of modern medical care and insurance means we don’t worry about the possibility of negative consequences of not resting when it is called for.  (And yes, I know the number of people who possess some kind of work ethic is rapidly diminishing—even now it looks as if they’re about to make America’s Most Wanted list.)  In a collapsed society, when not getting the physical rest that is needed may result in becoming sicker or doing worse damage to the body, rest will become respected and important again.

When God created the earth, He established the Sabbath, every seventh day, as a day of rest.    For most of this country’s history, the people observed this commandment.  Farmers, as the vast majority of this country was at its inception, truly looked forward to the Sabbath after six days of hard labor.  (The two years that I raised a massive garden in Missouri, working all morning in the garden and then all afternoon in the kitchen to preserve the produce, I genuinely welcomed each Sabbath day of rest.)

He who created our bodies knew that we needed to rest from our physical labors and that we also needed a set day to re-connect with and worship Him.  How we accomplish this is a personal matter.  As important as a personal relationship with God and observing the Sabbath is for physical and mental rest, there are additional options for taking a break and easing our minds.  In a world where cell phones and electronic entertainment may no longer exist, we need to be prepared to relax and mentally rest in other ways.  As a bonus, many of the suggestions below can be used when we are physically resting as well, especially when forced to do so due to illness or injury. 

Books are not just a great mental escape from a challenging reality for those who need it, but they are also a wonderful way to connect with the rest of the family when they are read aloud and enjoyed together.  The autobiographical accounts of Farley Mowat (The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be and Owls in the Family) and Ralph Moody (the Little Britches series) are entertaining, even hysterically funny at times, while also presenting wonderful examples of self-reliance, thrift, hard work, and the importance of family. 

Hobbies allow us to express our creative side while also producing essential items for the family.  Knitting, sewing, weaving, woodworking, gunsmithing—all will be critical skills in the days ahead.  Engaging in an enjoyable hobby provides us time to think through other problems and relieve stress. 

Games provide engaging teaching opportunities for younger children and time to enjoy relationships.  They don’t have to take a long time—even a 5-10 minute game can provide a much needed mental break from the day’s challenges. 

Aromatherapy with essential oils or candles can create a relaxing atmosphere.  Rosemary essential oil is an excellent choice, as is peppermint.

When our society crumbles, most people will not be in a position to rest, even when they sorely need it.  People who are not ready for the train to leave the rails will spend every waking minute just trying to survive.  Those who have prepared will not need to panic and will be able to rest as they should to maintain peak performance during the crisis.  They will be healthier and better able to focus.  In short, the fact that they can rest and rejuvenate their bodies means they and their families will be far more likely to survive a disaster.

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