If we're going to take good care of the body we've been given, we have to do more than exercise it, feed it well, and challenge it. We also have to give it time to recover.
That can be harder than it sounds.
I've always been pretty good at pushing through. For much of my life, I've thought of myself almost like a machine. If I decided something needed to get done, I figured out how to make it happen. I've also had tendency to think that if I can do something, I should.
Lately, I've been learning to question that.
This summer's extraordinary heat has made it especially obvious. When I'm gardening, I've been taking more breaks, coming inside to cool down in the air conditioning instead of trying to power through until the job is finished. I've also never had much trouble walking or even running, in the afternoon during the summer. This year, I've been getting up early and getting my walk done before 8:00 because my body simply does better that way.
And I'm trying to remember that choosing a different approach isn't the same as saying, "I can't."
Sometimes it's simply, "I prefer to do it this way."
That small distinction has been surprisingly helpful for me.
Rest and recovery aren't signs that we've failed, lost our discipline, or aren't working hard enough. They're part of maintaining the vehicle. Exercise breaks down muscle tissue so that it can rebuild stronger. Sleep gives the body time to repair itself, supports the immune system, and allows our organs and other systems to do some of their most important work. Rest also restores the physical energy we need for everything else our days require.
And the benefits aren't only physical. Steeping away from constant activity gives the mind a chance to settle. Adequate sleep can improve mood and help us manage stress, which makes it easier to respond to other people with patience and kindness. Taking a break can also clear some of the mental clutter so we can return to whatever we're doing with better focus and renewed energy.
There is a spiritual side to this, too.
Rest reminds us that we're human, not machines that are meant to run indefinitely. It acknowledges that we have limits. And perhaps most importantly, it gives us an opportunity to practice trusting God instead of believing everything depends on us.
That's a difficult one for me.
I've always had some control issues, and I suspect I'm not the only one. It's easy to convince ourselves that if we just work a little harder, stay a little busier, and keep everything under control, we'll be able to make everything turn out the way we want.
But rest asks us to stop.
It creates some quiet.
And in that quiet, we have the opportunity to remember that we don't have to control every single thing.
So maybe good stewardship includes knowing when to push and when to pause. It means challenging your body when it needs to be challenged, but also respecting its signals when it needs recovery. It means getting enough sleep, taking a day off when necessary, cooling down when the heat is too much, and making room for quiet when your mind needs it.
Rest isn't the opposite of productivity.
Sometimes rest is what makes everything else possible.
As you move through this week, pay attention to where you might be pushing simply because you're accustomed to pushing. Being busy just to be busy. Is there somewhere you could give yourself permission to slow down, recover, or let something wait?
You don't have to do everything.
And you don't have to prove that you can.
Sometimes taking good care of yourself means recognizing what you need and choosing it on purpose.