​REST & RELAXATION

​By Eliana Barriga
Publisher and Managing Editor for The Retail Observer

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Eliana Barriga

A friend of mine recently went to the doctor for her knee pain, and was told that the first thing she needed to do was rest. According to the doctor, continuing to force movement would only make things worse and cause more injury to the area, so rest was the most important component needed to recover.

How many times do we all push through life, even when we are mentally exhausted or physically fatigued? Personally, there were many times I have felt like taking a day, an afternoon or even one hour off, but felt it was a luxury that I just couldn’t afford to take.

​After only a few days of rest, my friend happily reported that the pain was almost gone and by the end of the week, she was surprised to find that she had no pain at all. What would have happened had she pushed through it and continued to stay active? She probably would have increased the severity of her injury beyond what a week of rest could heal.

So, the question begging to be asked is: are you making time for rest, mental breaks, exercise, healthy meals, visits with friends or quality time with family? What kind of toll is your body, mind, and life taking by pushing day in and day out? Many of us don’t even stop to recognize the changes, since they happen so gradually. We wake up one day and remember how energizing it was to play a round of golf or how relaxing morning walks used to feel. When was the last time you did anything other than work?

I have found that when I work too hard and push through it, my workdays seem longer and it’s harder to let go and unwind at the end of each day. But when my life is more balanced, I am more productive and enjoy the time I am working. When the day is done, I am able to easily relax and get some much needed rest.

To taking care of yourselves,
Eliana Barriga
​eliana@retailobserver.com

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