The Importance of REST

It might sound like a dumb question, but what exactly is rest and why do we need it?

REST is a state of:

Reduced Reactivity – No, you don’t need to answer that text in 10 seconds or less. In fact it can wait at least 10 minutes I’m sure. Same goes with your email! Move the loci of control inside, react less.

Energy Conservation – the brain, although only 3% of your total weight consumes about 25% of your daily energy. Focus! Studies show that focusing on one task for at least fifteen minutes helps reduce cortisol (stress) levels (and conserve energy). Try a brain game to get focused. When you are ready for prime time, try MUSE for assisted meditation or some hypnosis.

Sensory Cutting – The greatest change in the appearance of our planet is the amount of light twinkling across its surface at night. We are electrified! We are buzzing…The National Library of Medicine has over 5000 citations on the adverse effects of noise on health. In their paper Noise Pollution: A Modern Plague, Dr. Louis Hagler and Lisa Goines RN report that “The body reacts to noise with a ‘fight or flight’ response, with resultant nervous, hormonal, and vascular changes that have far reaching consequences. Despite the fact that much has been written about the health effects of noise, it seems that much of information is not appreciated by the medical community and even less so by the general public.” You’re in “the no” now – that is the no light and no sound zone when you take a rest.

Time Calibration – Grandpa Rex was right – “Before you know it, you’ll be forty, kid!” I think you can relate to the ever increasing speed at which the days are evaporating. I think it has to do with the constant distractions in this overly digitized world. I recommend what I call “Calibrating Time.” I set my smart phone for seven minutes as soon as I wake up and do deep breathing, a prayer and some stretching until the alarm goes off. Without fail I think “that is not a lot of time, but I just made a big effect on how I feel.” Then, at 2pm each day I do 2 minutes of deep breathing and prayer. Clients from all over the US, Canada, Singapore and Malaysia have joined our “2 at 2” rest stop and are loving life more! Give it a go – er – stop.

Rest primes you for great sleep later in your day.

Rest helps improve your sex life by keeping tone in the parasympathetic nervous system.

Rest aids the gut in digesting and absorbing food and expelling waste.

Rest can extend your life.

Remember, rest is not just what you do in the bedroom at night. Neglecting rest during the waking hours is damaging to your mental and physical health! Now that you have the rest of the story, pass it on. Rest is cool again.

Adam C. Miller, DDS, MD

Founder, ARISE MD