When it comes to the idea of rebirth and growth, we often think of spring. The arrival of spring is heralded with new life – fresh shoots, the hum of bees buzzing and the call of birds as they busy themselves with nest building. You cannot but help feel lighter, excited, and joyous at it all – the blue skies and soft breeze enough to make anyone giddy after the grey of winter.
Yet, we cannot have spring if there is no winter. For there to be growth, at first there must be rest. This I’ve learnt recently can also be applied to ourselves.
Lately, I’ve been struggling from burn out. I’ve been pushing myself, feeling a sense of urgency to get things done and get them done now. As a result, I haven’t been able to switch off, my mind a constant whir of cogs spinning, thinking what can I do next to further my career. So, when I find myself tired and unable to function, my body rundown and unresponsive, I continue to berate myself and push on even harder. The result is a complete breakdown in which I’m unable to fully function, and why is that? Because I do not allow myself to rest, something so fundamentally crucial to our well-being which I am actively denying myself.
Our current society is built upon this ‘hustle culture’ – being consistently productive and working endlessly. The more you work, the more rewards you shall reap. Yet, studies have shown that the opposite is true; that if anything, our productivity reduces drastically. This is of detriment to our health and well-being, so in the long run we are not doing ourselves any favours by working so tirelessly.
But let’s look at the trees for a moment. A tree is fruitful, productive let’s say, for only a set amount of time in the year. New leaves in the spring, followed by blossoms in the summer which lead onto fruit in the early autumn. This cycle is only possible with winter – a resting period in which the trees can use their energy replenishing themselves, building their strength, taking root. This is true for us – our productivity is only possible when we are given ample time to also rest and recharge our resources. If we skip this vital step in this cycle, we suffer as a consequence.
Instead of rushing winter and dreading the cold, we should instead use this time to take care of ourselves. Much like the hedgehogs who hibernate in their warm nests, and the saplings who lay dormant waiting for the sun to fall, we must allow time for ourselves to rejuvenate. It is difficult to rewire a mindset built around the notion of working consistently to not ‘fall behind’, but if we are to look after our mental and physical health, we must learn to give ourselves permission to ‘not do anything’.
Let us allow winter to remind us of the importance of rest that in turn will allow us to grow. We need winter, we need rest.
