And rest...

Photo by Ahnaf Piash on Unsplash

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees… in the open air, listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” John Lubbock

Let’s be honest, your brain has probably been running a marathon while wearing wellies – clagged up, overworked, and a bit soggy around the edges.

Or is that just me?

This weekend, what would it be like if you gave yourself permission to stop.

Properly stop. Not the kind of half-rest where you’re lying down but still replying to texts, doomscrolling, or mentally composing your Monday to-do list.

Start by emptying your head. Grab a notebook, the back of an envelope, anything – and jot down everything you’re holding in your mind. Don’t sort it, fix it, or even reread it. Just get it out and let it rest somewhere that isn’t inside you.

Then try doing one thing slowly. Anything. Making a brew, pottering in the garden, washing your face with warm water. The only rule? No multitasking. No rushing. Just be with it.

And if your body or emotions are trying to get your attention – a headache, a tight chest, a feeling you can’t quite name – try listening, without judgment. Sometimes the quietest weekends are the ones that tell you the most.

A mini mind spa isn’t about luxury – it’s about kindness. It doesn’t have to cost a penny, and it doesn’t need to be productive. You don’t have to earn it. You just have to allow it.

Weekend journaling prompt:
What does true rest feel like in your body, your mind, and your heart – and when was the last time you gave yourself that gift?

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Heart Leap is about tools, ideas, and people who help us make a leap in thinking so we feel inspired and uplifted rather than trapped, stuck, and downhearted.

Heart Leap is for writers who want to write and get their words out into the world but who find writing a hard slog but don’t want to give up the dream. Think of Heart Leap as your very own cosy writing nook, which gives support and accountability .

I run two writing hours a week at 9am (BST) on a Tuesday and Thursday and a ‘writing rehab’ on the first Wednesday of the month at 7pm (BST) where we discuss ways to boost our creativity, set ourselves delightful artist’s dates and realistic writing goals while drinking tea.

Heart Leap is for people starting again, literally or metaphorically.