Here’s me lounging in the most divine Garden Spa in Puerto Veijo in our Costa Rica trip last month.
But trust me — if you don’t build rest into your days, your body will eventually force it on you.
Not just for hours, but for months or even years.
That’s what happened to me.

The trick is not to rely on escape-rest (although it can be wonderful) but to practise living-rest.
Here are three ways to weave rest into your daily life so you don’t crash:

1. Take 12 breaths
Before you eat, after you eat, before you open your front door, before you answer a call or before you get in the car.
Start with one pause a day and then build to three.

Why? Because breathing is your remote control for your nervous system. Slow, full breathing tells your vagus nerve that you’re safe. That simple switch lowers blood pressure, eases digestion, and even helps you absorb more nutrients from your food. A pause that changes everything.

2. Keep one chair or spot only for stillness
Don’t read, don’t meditate, don’t pick up your phone.
Just sit.
Even five minutes is enough. Just be.

Your brain loves cues — when you always sit in the same place for stillness, your nervous system learns it as a shortcut to calm. Studies show this kind of quiet reset boosts dopamine and clears mental clutter, giving you energy and clarity without needing a nap.

I love my spot at the window in my kitchen watching the birds. My morning practice is non-negotiable — but that’s a story for another post.

3. Switch TV for something that lights you up
Instead of automatically reaching for the remote, try phoning a friend, reading, writing or doing something that energises you.

I had no TV for ten years when I was fully living a yogi lifestyle, but now I enjoy choosing a film or series one night at the weekend. When I had the flu, I watched the entire series of 1894 and loved every minute of the distraction.

Passive TV watching has been linked with reduced cognitive function and higher risk of depression, whereas reading or practising skills activates multiple brain regions — improving memory, focus and emotional regulation (Harvard Health, 2020). Plus, calling someone you love drops your stress hormone and boosts oxytocin, the bonding chemical.

Connection is everything. Think about it: when do you usually watch TV? From my experience working with thousands of people through Joyworks over the last 17 years, it’s usually when you’re too exhausted to do anything else. Do you feel rested afterwards, or numbed out?

Pack in little bits of rest during the day and you’ll have energy to do something different in the evening. Take time to think about what truly lights you up. Often, watching TV is simply a habit, not a genuine choice.

My partner Paolo is a big TV fan. He reminded me when I was writing this post that the most important word in the research is “passive”. The same goes for doomscrolling — if you do watch TV or spend time on social media, make sure it’s something you’ve intentionally chosen and fully enjoy it without guilt. Making ourselves wrong for doing something is never a good motivation. Inspired action is always best.

I’d love to hear how you pack rest into your day.

Wishing you an epic week,
Sharon

PS: If you’re a business owner, leader or manager coming back from illness, remember our Joy Academy membership is here for you — to rebuild energy, creativity and joy step by step. You can join us this Thursday 4th September at 7pm BST for The Inner Light Book Club Workshop on Ask and It’s Given by Abraham Hicks. It’s going to be a cracker.

Or bring Joyworks into your team or group for an unforgettable joy experience so they’ll feel closer, energised and able to thrive.