Summer comes and goes in a blink. With the seething 90 degrees in July … heat-lovers spent majority of the time soaking in the sun while appreciators of cooler temperatures planned indoor gatherings. No matter how you choose to spend your summer, it can feel demanding despite schools closed and summer Fridays offering shorter work week options. Summer brings with it outdoor activities, social commitments, picnics and barbeques, travels, and a feeling of lightness because of long days. Most of us tend to overdo “summer things.”
In one of my group calls, a few people vented how their calendars are already packed starting the Tuesday after Labor Day. Make the most of the last few days in August, others chimed in. Yes, it’s understandable if people want to enjoy summer till the hilt. But know that your mind and body will rebel, eventually, if you don’t make the time to recalibrate before the busyness of fall takes over.
Why Labor Day holiday weekend should include Leisure Day as well:
- Helps you recharge and rejuvenate: It might be tempting to say a YES to every BBQ gathering and squeeze in half a dozen party invites over the long weekend or hop on a plane to someplace exotic for one last hurrah. But remember that fall is an intense time at work for almost everyone. This long weekend can help you slowly transition from the blissful madness of summer to the daily grind of fall. Taking some time to truly rest and relax can help recharge your physical and mental energy.
- Reduces stress and prevents burnout: “Rest gets a bad rap in the hyper-competitive, always connected, 24-7, hustle and ambition culture of the work world. We constantly worry about falling behind. We fear taking time for ourselves will jeopardize our goals, ambitions, and dreams.” The fast pace of everyday life where we desire to get “A head start on everything” can lead to chronic stress. This holiday weekend offers an opportunity to step back, decompress, and alleviate stress. Spend quality time with your loved ones, unplug from social media, engage in nourishing activities, give permission to your mind and body to rest, and allow yourself to unwind. This can promote feelings of rejuvenation.
- Improves your immune system: One of my clients said to me, “Dr. Vikram. Do you have any Ayurvedic tips to handle fall allergies?” I reminded them about the powers of restorative rest. “What do you mean?” was the expected response. Late nights over summer and mindless eating can take a toll on our health. Rest can support your immune function, cardiovascular health, digestion, sleep, mental health, and other aspects of physical wellness. Taking a break from erratic living and going nonstop can have a revitalizing effect that benefits your long-term health. I recommended using the Labor Day weekend as a time to reset.
- Boosts productivity and focus: Because we confuse busyness with productivity … we don’t necessarily pause and ponder over what’s working and what’s not working. Growth happens when we make the time to embrace stillness and analyze our actions and performance. Labor Day weekend can be an opportunity for you to hold space for deep thinking work and engage in inner reflections. You can journal about it or mull over your self-discovery. This can help you show up to September personal and professional commitments with enhanced clarity. It might seem counterintuitive to take time to rest, but the replenishment can help reset your brain and enhance your productivity when you return to work.
- Promotes healthy habits: I am the type of person who likes to be in bed by 9:30pm latest. But Emily in Paris (new season) and a few other British crime dramas led to late nights on weeknights this summer. Of course, that threw off my entire schedule for the next few days because I woke up not feeling rested. It affected my workouts and chai-consumption as well. The extra time off over the holiday weekend will provide me an opportunity to reset healthy habits. Mine was around sleep but with many of my clients, I remind them this is the time to implement new self-care practices: be it exercising more regularly or cutting down on alcohol or sugar consumption or late-night snacking. It’s easier to maintain them long after the holiday weekend is over and fall deadlines start looming over your head.
Research will tell you that high-performing older athletes like Tom Brady, Serena Williams, Roger Federer, Lebron James extended their careers and enhanced their performance by prioritizing rest and recovery. The Labor Day weekend offers a chance to turn inward and recharge both mentally and physically. “This Labor Day, let us not just celebrate the achievements of workers but also recommit to the spiritual practice of rest.”
“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.” ~ Etty Hillesum
