Latest news with #rest
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- Health
- The Guardian
The five kinds of rest – and why they matter for new mothers
We live in a society that champions individualism, productivity and professional and financial success. At every turn we're encouraged to do it all, which can make us worry that if we're not being productive, what is our purpose? Across two years of research, including interviews with more than 60 perinatal health specialists and hundreds of mothers on the Australian Birth Stories podcast, we learned that most mothers enter postpartum with unrealistic expectations of themselves and their bodies. Some are left feeling purposeless and questioning their worth when the work of caring for a baby doesn't fit with the narrative of a results-driven society. And so it's helpful to flip the narrative and consider rest as the most productive thing you can do after birth. While pregnancy is the most ordinary of experiences, it is also absolutely extraordinary; it's the longest, highest-energy expenditure task the human body performs. After that you deserve rest, you need rest and it's important to remember that your body heals when it's resting. In fact, making a full recovery from childbirth is dependent on rest. When you care for yourself in postpartum, you lay the foundation for your long-term health and wellbeing. When it comes to postpartum, especially if you've got older children, rest is only made possible through intention, preparation and support. There's a lot of privilege associated with the opportunity to rest – access to a support network or the funds to pay for one – but it also requires you to value it and prioritise it. Understanding that there are different ways to rest, even when sleep is not something you can count on, can make that easier. This doesn't mean cancelling all plans but rather considering how you feel in social situations and being aware of the effect people have on you. Social rest is choosing to spend time with people who support your intentions and bolster your energy, who fill your soul and make you feel good. Ultimately, you want your social interactions to be positive and meaningful rather than draining and obligatory. This is particularly pertinent in early postpartum when unwanted guests can become a hindrance, tiring you and your baby by overstaying their welcome, which will make you feel depleted and exhausted at an already overwhelming time. The immediate period after birth is a mentally demanding phase of rapid learning. This focus and subsequent exhaustion is exacerbated by birth recovery, fogginess (often referred to as 'baby brain'), sleep deprivation and learning to breastfeed (if you do so). It's imperative to give your brain space to process what you're learning so the lessons have time to sink in. To create this space be mindful of what else you're consuming, especially advice from social media, as information overload can make it hard to be discerning. If you feel as though there are too many thoughts, ideas and questions in your head, write them down in a dot-point list: it helps you to find clarity and empties your head of distractions. Because you're in a physiologically vulnerable and sensitive state, you want to be gentle with your whole self. Any stress, anxiety or concerns will rattle you more than they usually do. Calming music, warm baths, hot tea, cosy clothes and minimal screen time will help you stay grounded. Think of your postpartum bedroom and house as a cocoon; prepare it while you're pregnant and you'll really benefit from its comfort. You'll also benefit from time alone where no one is touching you. Being 'touched out' is a common experience in early motherhood and is particularly relevant if you have older children who can, understandably, need extra touch and reassurance. This may quickly feel sensorially overwhelming, so prioritising breaks – in the shower or bath, in your bedroom with the door closed – goes a long way to creating the physical space you need to feel settled. Beyond the passive physical rest of sleep, active rest such as lying horizontally as much as possible in the first few weeks after birth is a big step towards recovery. This allows your pelvic floor to heal from pregnancy and birth, which is important for your long-term health. Active rest also involves releasing obvious tension in your body. Moving your hips and legs in a way that feels good – yoga, massage – is recommended in postpartum to improve circulation. Likewise, performing gentle stretches of your upper body, neck and shoulders will release the tension you may experience while learning to breastfeed. If you're breastfeeding, it can be really helpful to feed while lying on your side; this prevents your upper body from getting tense and won't place unnecessary pressure on your pelvic floor and perineum. But if you've had a caesarean birth, lying on your side to feed can be painful for the first few weeks, so you may be more comfortable in a supported seated position. Talking to your partner, birth support person or doula/midwife is important. We often have a lot to unpack after birth and it's common to want to share how you felt in labour, the highs and lows of the experience, and how you feel now. This is really healthy: you're letting go of your thoughts, processing them with empathetic listeners and considering how they make you feel. Emotional rest is the calm you feel when you can share your experience in an honest and authentic way. This is an edited extract from The Complete Guide to Postpartum (Murdoch Books; $39.99)
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paige Bueckers will sit out Wings' matchup with Aces on Sunday, but expected to play Monday
Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers will sit out Sunday's matchup with the Las Vegas Aces for rest, the team announced on Saturday. The Wings are scheduled to play back-to-back games with Sunday's game versus the Aces followed by Monday's meeting with the New York Liberty. Bueckers is expected to play on Monday against the defending WNBA champions. Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick in this year's WNBA Draft, is averaging 18.1 points, 5.6 assists and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 33% on 3-pointers in 20 games this season. She has missed five games, four of them after suffering a concussion and dealing with a subsequent illness. But since returning to the Wings' lineup on June 11, Bueckers had played in 14 of 15 games on the schedule. She also played in July 18's WNBA All-Star Game, voted into the starting lineup. After Friday's 86-76 loss to the Golden State Valkyries, Bueckers became the first player in league history to total more than 350 points (362) and 100 assists (111) in the first 20 games of her career. The one game she sat out during that stretch was June 15's matchup versus the Washington Mystics due to a right knee issue. Wings coach Chris Koclanes dismissed any speculation toward a more serious injury, saying that Bueckers was scratched from the lineup for precautionary reasons and "managing what's best for her long-term health." Playing the past seven games supports that notion. Yet knee issues are a concern for Bueckers, especially with her left knee. She missed the entire 2022-23 season at UConn due to a torn ACL and in January, Bueckers missed two games after spraining her left knee versus Villanova. Dallas does not have another back-to-back during the remaining 17 games on its schedule after Monday's matchup with the Liberty. At 7-18 going into Sunday, the Wings have the second-worst record in the WNBA, a half-game behind the Chicago Sky.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
FIFPRO hit out at FIFA for ignoring players' 'basic needs' and claim footballers fear consequences of speaking out over increasingly demanding schedules
Players concerned about too many games FIFPRO slam FIFA for ignoring their "basic needs" Say many fear consequences of speaking out Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 WHAT HAPPENED? FIFPRO's general secretary, Alex Phillips, states that many of the 66,000 men's and women's players they represent around the world are concerned about their lack of rest and the sheer number of games they play. She added that there is also a fear of reprisal if they speak their mind on the topic. WHAT PHILLIPS SAID She said: "Players are wary of speaking up because they don't have the power. Individually they might have wealth, the top 1%, but 99% of players don't have power apart from via their union or association. Before the Club World Cup I was speaking to some of the top stars and they were saying they hadn't had a rest for 'X' amount of time, and one said I only get a rest when I get injured. Others were resigned and cynical about speaking up. Then you see some of the same players two weeks later having to record social media videos saying 'we think the Club World Cup is so great' because their employers tell them to do it and it's part of their job. You have this contradictory situation where players can't speak up. They are in an invidious position. They can speak up but it could have consequences." THE BIGGER PICTURE In response, FIFA said it was "extremely disappointed by the increasingly divisive and contradictory tone adopted by FIFPRO leadership". The governing body said in a statement: "The game deserves unity, not division. Players deserve action, not rhetoric. FIFA will move forward together with players and those who really want the best for football. It is up to Fifpro to answer this call." Despite that, players such as Manchester City's Rodri has threatened to go on strike as many have been left exhausted by the increasingly demanding schedule - something that was exacerbated with this summer's Club World Cup. Moreover, FIFPRO were reportedly not invited to a key meeting that FIFA held on player welfare earlier this month, and this has happened before, too. WHAT NEXT? This war of words may continue between FIFA and FIFPRO but unless a solution is found, players are likely to get increasingly burnt out or pick up more injuries that could damage their careers. For example, Club World Cup winners Chelsea won the tournament on July 13, and just 35 days later, their Premier League campaign begins.
Forbes
11-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Permission To Pause: Why Rest At Work Is A Radical Act Of Leadership
As burnout rates continue to climb, it's clear that this always-on mentality is no longer sustainable. Organizations today are grappling with a growing burnout crisis. One that's quietly driving disengagement, higher turnover, and stalled innovation. And yet, millions of hours of unused PTO continue to pile up year after year. It's more than a missed opportunity; it's a signal that employees don't feel comfortable or supported stepping away, even when they desperately need to. At the heart of this issue is a culture that glorifies hustling and constant output. As burnout rates continue to climb, it's clear that this always-on mentality is no longer sustainable. Rest is often misunderstood as indulgent, but in reality, it's one of the boldest and smartest leadership strategies available. Taking time to recharge allows us to make better decisions, support others more effectively, and sustain long-term creativity and impact. Rest isn't stepping back; it's stepping up with intention. Leaders who take time to pause, whether for a vacation, spending time with family and loved ones, or to do things that fuel them (one of my personal favorites is gardening), model a healthier standard for success by giving their teams permission to do the same. Reframing Rest as a Business Strategy When leaders openly prioritize rest, they challenge outdated assumptions about productivity and redefine what strength looks like. Rest becomes not just a personal choice, but an organizational value. This starts with reshaping the cadence of work. Practices like no-meeting or light-meeting Fridays can create uninterrupted time for focused thinking, problem-solving, learning, or simply networking. And when organizations offer sabbaticals or flexible work arrangements, they signal that sustainable practices of rest aren't a perk, but a priority. But policies alone aren't enough. Leaders must ensure time-off policies are clearly communicated, easy to access, and equitably applied across roles and teams. From onboarding to performance conversations, rest should be part of how organizations define success and sustainability. This means evaluating whether its systems and culture support people's ability to pause and thrive. Personally, I'm excited to step away for a two-week Social Sabbatical with SAP this month. This program was started by SAP over 10 years ago to support non-profit organizations, NGOs and social enterprises who have limited resources to increase their capacity and effectiveness with one of SAP's most valuable resources: our people. I'm excited to not only participate in this program, but to also demonstrate to my team that it's important to step away and invest in personal experiences that take us outside of work. These diverse experiences give us different perspectives and unique takeaways that ultimately make us stronger teams. How Technology Can Normalize Rest at Scale Technology plays a crucial role in making rest routine. The right tools can reinforce healthy habits and make stepping away not only possible, but easy. Global absence management software can help shift time-off planning from a reactive task to a proactive strategy. For example, team calendar views help managers plan and balance workloads while ensuring coverage. Proactive, automated reminders to use vacation time can help push back against a culture of constant work and can even empower managers to actively encourage their teams to take advantage of their remaining leave balances. With real-time visibility into leave balances, accruals, and entitlements, tailored to local regulations and public holidays, employees and managers make confident and informed decisions on the best time to enjoy downtime. To ensure accessibility across global teams, employees can view and manage their time off in their preferred local language. Mobile access and AI-driven self-service experiences also make requesting time off simpler, faster, and more intuitive, anytime, anywhere. When people know their request won't derail the team or trigger unnecessary stress, they're far more likely to take the time they need. Making Rest Work: Practical Ways to Build a Culture of Pause Encouraging time off is one thing. Removing the friction that keeps people from taking it is another. Here's how to do both: 1. Make Rest Visible from the Top Down Model the behavior you want to see. When leaders block time off on their calendars and speak openly about the power of rest, it sends the message that taking a pause is encouraged. 2. Use Your Data to Spot Red Flags Early Regularly audit your PTO and time-off data to uncover trends like unused vacation, repeated carryovers, or teams not taking a break due to heavy workloads. These are often early indicators of burnout or disengagement. Don't just track the data; use it to start proactive conversations before burnout turns into turnover. 3. Streamline the Time-Off Experience Use technology that supports workload planning, visibility, and ease of use. If requesting PTO is confusing or a headache, it won't happen. The boldest move a leader can make in a burnout-prone culture is modeling rest firsthand. When leaders pause, they build trust, set healthy boundaries, and enable sustainable, high-impact performance for themselves and their teams. Learn how SAP SuccessFactors helps organizations create a culture of intentional rest.
The Independent
11-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Psychotherapist reveals the secret to relaxing on holidays
Many people struggle to transition from busy daily life to holiday mode, often trying to cram too much in rather than truly resting. Senior psychotherapist Dr. Michael Swift and BetterHelp therapist Joanne Saulter say to ease into holidays, physically slow yourself down by taking slower walks or eating more intentionally, which helps calm the nervous system. Avoid the pressure to do numerous activities; instead, focus on enjoying just a few things each day to properly relax and destress. Prioritise self-regulation and understand your holiday values, setting boundaries like limiting phone use to ensure quality time and rest. Catch up on sleep by allowing lie-ins and moderating alcohol, and engage in new activities to break routine and stimulate your mind.
