Just talking about the importance of Rest

 There's much research done about how important rest is to the human body.  There's the bit about being sure to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep.  There's the bit about taking a nap in the early afternoon and the different amounts that yield different results.  There's the bit about whether getting 4 hours at night and then making sure you get 4 hours throughout the day napping making up for the other 4.  And on and on.

Then there's the information related to the effects of getting enough (or not enough) rest on the body.

Research from the web yields this:

Rest is essential to physical and mental health. It has been found that inadequate rest can result in a decrease in mental and physical performance and can even lead to long-term health issues. Furthermore, rest can also be beneficial in helping to restore the body and give it the opportunity to heal and repair itself. From a physiological standpoint, rest is important for numerous reasons. First, when we sleep, our body releases hormones to help repair worn out tissues and organs, which helps to improve our overall health.  Importantly, this includes our brain.  Additionally, adequate rest can improve our moods and help to reduce stress, two factors that can have a major impact on our overall health. Getting enough rest also helps to improve cognitive performance. When we don’t get enough rest, our ability to think clearly, focus, and remember information can all be affected. In addition, research has shown that lack of sleep can lead to anxiety and depression. Finally, rest helps to stimulate our immune system, which is essential for fighting off illnesses and infections. Without adequate rest, we become more susceptible to illnesses, which can lead to further health problems. In conclusion, rest is essential for physical and mental health. 

 We've all burned the candle at both ends.  We've all burned ourselves out and gotten sick.  I know people, who when they feel the first onset of that tickle in the back of their throat, they are able to just go to bed for a day and get rest.  I know that sounds "nice", but the alternative is just to get more and more sick and have to power through it.  If your feeling sick, try to get as much rest as you can.  I know that's not always an option, but this goes to self care which really goes to self preservation.

Innately I think we all know this.  As the saying goes, we know what we need to do, we just need to do it.  I know we can't all go to bed for a day when we start feeling sick, but the importance of getting enough rest is, today more than ever, a gift we can give ourselves, even if it's in just 20 minute increments.