The Healing Power of Stillness: Why Rest Is an Active Part of Wellness

My pup Sammy Chuck is one of my best teachers when it comes to resting :D He loves using his gator as a pillow.

For years, I used to believe that rest was something you earned only after pushing yourself to the limit. I was the quintessential over achiever, type A, stay up til 2am and wake at 8am to go to my first of three jobs for the day kinda gal. I wore busyness like a badge of honor—always going, always producing, always giving. But my body eventually told me the truth: running on empty is not sustainable. Illness, exhaustion, and stress became my teachers, guiding me to discover what I had been missing all along—rest is not passive. Rest is active healing and it’s one of the most difficult lessons I’ve ever had to learn.

The Science of Rest

Rest is more than just lying down or sleeping—it’s a physiological process that deeply supports your body’s healing systems. Research shows that intentional rest:

• Regulates the nervous system: Rest activates the parasympathetic branch (the “rest and digest” mode), which helps lower blood pressure and balance stress hormones.

• Boosts immune function: Sleep and deep rest allow your body to produce infection-fighting cells and reduce inflammation.

• Supports lymphatic flow: Gentle stillness paired with deep breathing improves circulation and helps the lymphatic system detoxify waste.

• Sharpens focus and mood: Studies in neuroscience show that rest enhances memory, creativity, and emotional regulation.

In short, rest, when used intentionally, isn’t laziness—it’s medicine.

Soulful Rest Practices You Can Try

Rest doesn’t have to mean a two-week vacation or checking out from life. Small, intentional practices make a profound difference:

1. Restorative Yoga – Just 10 minutes with your legs up the wall can calm the nervous system, improve digestion and help you sleep more deeply.

2. Reiki or Energy Healing – Subtle energy work allows the body to deeply reset.

3. Mindful Breathing – Inhale for 4 counts, exhale for 6 counts. Repeat for 3 minutes.

4. Digital Rest – A simple device-free hour in the evening helps your mind settle.

5. Short Naps – A 20-minute nap can restore alertness without grogginess.

6. Having fun! - Doing something low key that brings you joy, whether a hobby or a walk with your pup, can be a way to practice rest.

Releasing the Guilt Around Rest

Many of us struggle with rest because we equate it with doing nothing—or worse, with weakness. But the truth is, rest is a choice to honor your body’s wisdom. It’s an act of radical self-care in a culture that glorifies burnout. Living in a country that values profit over people makes it hard for many of us to take time to relax but studies show that when we rest, we increase creativity and collaboration.

Rest & Creativity: What the Research Says

1. Sleep and Creative Insight

• REM Sleep Powers Creative Thought
  Studies show that waking up from REM sleep leads to a 32% advantage in solving anagram tasks compared to waking from non-REM sleep, indicating enhanced cognitive flexibility.Wikipedia

• Sleep Inspires Insight
  Another experiment found that people who slept were twice as likely to uncover hidden rules in problem-solving tasks — a clear win for creative insight.Wikipedia

• Hypnagogia Sparks Ideas
  The transitional state just before sleep (N1 sleep or hypnagogia) is especially rich in creative output. In one study, participants dreaming of "trees" during N1 sleep performed 48% better on related creativity tasks after waking.The Washington Post

Naps and Recovery Fuel Creativity

• Nap Your Way to Solutions
  Afternoon naps have been shown to boost analogical problem-solving—helping participants better connect related ideas and solve problems more creatively.TIMEReddit

• Sleep Enhances Memory and Creativity
  By letting the brain reorganize information during sleep, creativity benefits—especially in forming novel connections.SELFNeuroscience of Creativity Society

Rest, Mind-Wandering & Creative Incubation

• Walking Sparks New Thoughts
  A Stanford study found that walking—especially outside—enhanced divergent thinking (a creativity measure) more than sitting still, with benefits carrying over after the walk.Greater Good

• Breaks and Mindful Daydreaming Help
  Psychological research confirms that even short breaks or letting the mind drift during a low-stress task leads to creative insight.Neuroscience of Creativity SocietyWikipedia

• Ambient Distraction Aids Creativity
  Studies show that moderate noise levels (around 70 dB) help abstract thinking and creative ideation by gently diverting attention.Wikipedia

Meditation, Downtime & Executive Function

• Meditation Enhances Divergent Thinking
  Daily meditation sessions (even just 30 minutes over a week) improved both verbal and visual creativity in university students.Wikipedia

• Rest Builds Brain Resilience
  Good sleep supports executive function—an essential component of creative thinking—by helping the prefrontal cortex operate more flexibly.PMCiCreatives

Rest & Collaboration: The Indirect Connection

While direct studies linking rest to collaborative performance are rarer, there's meaningful overlap:

• Mental Restoration Enhances Focus & Empathy
  Attention Restoration Theory shows that exposure to restful environments (like nature) replenishes mental energy and reduces fatigue—both vital for effective teamwork.Wikipedia

• Restored Minds Are Open to Connection
  When our attention systems and executive function recharge, we're generally better at listening, empathizing, and responding flexibly—all key to healthy collaboration.PMCWikipedia

When we allow ourselves to pause, we create space for healing, clarity, and joy. Stillness doesn’t take us away from life—it brings us more fully into it.

A Gentle Invitation

This week, I invite you to carve out just 10 minutes a day for stillness. Try one of the practices above and notice how your body and mind respond.

And if you’d like support in building rest into your wellness journey, I’d love to guide you through private yoga, Reiki sessions, or therapeutic massage. Together, we can create a rhythm of rest that nourishes your whole being.

✨ How do you create space for rest in your life? Share your practices or challenges in the comments—I’d love to hear from you.