The National Deficit: Rest
Is your To-Do list longer than your grocery list? Today’s culture has us living life at a pace which leaves us stressed out and simply worn out by the day’s end. As Christians, intent on “doing good”, we typically pile Kingdom responsibilities on top of our already packed family schedules. Rarely do we pause to consider the cost of personal fatigue, irritability, and illness that we’ll be made to pay for trying to squeeze way too much “good” into our lives.
As a holistic healthcare practitioner I often ask my patients to consider reorganizing their daytime hours to achieve a balanced budget of health, productivity, and joy in life’s journey. Personally, I view my daily schedule as a glass I fill with water. If I fill it up to the tippy-top, I will not be able to enjoy even one sip, as any disturbance of my water glass (day) will result in spillage and a frustrating clean up.
If you recognize there’s no “splash zone” built into your day, look for ways to offload or delegate responsibilities until you can manage your tasks in less time than you have daytime hours. Remember, the Lord has given you enough time in each day for you to accomplish His will…the excess activity may have more to do with your will.
God designed our bodies to need 7-8 hours of sleep each night, yet 74% of Americans are under slept, racking up huge deficits in the sleep department! Sleep is not wasted “down time”—it’s biological production time. While you’re asleep your body’s cells are being repaired, hormones are being replaced, memories are being stored, and your immune system is strengthened. These are benefits you simply can’t live without!
Don’t be fooled; shortchanging yourself of hours of sleep will definitely shortchange your health. In fact, studies have shown that life expectancy is significantly decreased for those who get too little sleep. So, begin investing in your health this very day by lightening your workload and by making sure you go to sleep 7-8 hours before you have to be up.