Principle #4: Silence and Rest
Silence is the most powerful, accessible and nurturing form of self-care you can practice.
If you find yourself in a vicious cycle of multitasking, overwhelm, and are harried, tired, unfocused and drained — silence can cut through the noise. In the modern age, noise is inevitable. Silence is almost extinct. Yet it’s the best defense you have.
The root of the word “noise” comes from the Latin “noxia,” which means sickness, pain or hurt. Medical evidence confirms that noise of every ilk — even the digital noise of the dings, beeps and swoosh-sounds of your tech — has deep repercussions on your health. Noise can negatively affect focus and sleep, increase stress, trigger anxiety and even cause depression. Taking moments of silence — and rest — are an antidote. They can help you survive.
Productivity starts with rejuvenation and rest. In fact, productivity is a function of rejuvenation. An essential equation for wellness is: the degree to which you expend your energy, is the degree to which you must renew and regenerate your body and mind. There’s a direct relationship.
If you’re serious about high-performance and success, you’ll get serious about practicing high-quality unplugged, disconnected, relaxing and energizing silence and rest.