An Invitation to Rest
You are cordially invited to invest in your own rest...
Each August, we intentionally pause our professional learning calendar to create space for something that is often overlooked: rest! Throughout the month, we have cleared our calendar of workshops, communities of practice, and networking meetings to encourage ourselves and our community to slow down, reflect, and invest in our personal well-being.
In a profession centred on caring for others, it can be easy to place our own needs at the bottom of the list. Many of us early years professionals spend our day supporting families and children alongside the community as a whole, often giving so much of ourselves that little energy remains by the end of the busy day. While this work is incredibly meaningful, it reminds us of the importance of caring for ourselves.
Research has continued to reinforce this message. In our previous Invitation to Rest, we shared that approximately 40% of childcare and education professionals experience burnout. Further research by Trauernicht et al. (2023), Early Childhood Educators’ Exhaustion and the Frequency of Educational Activities in Preschool, found that educators’ emotional exhaustion influences classroom management, educator-child interactions, and opportunities for children’s social-emotional learning. While rest alone cannot solve every challenge our sector faces, investing in our rest can support the mental, physical, and emotional energy we rely on each day.
Over the past few years, we have explored why rest matters, the different types of rest, and practical ways to build restorative habits into our daily lives. This year, we would like to focus on one simple reminder:
Rest is most powerful when it becomes part of our routine, not just our recovery.
Too often, we wait until we feel completely overwhelmed before giving ourselves permission to slow down and relax. Instead, what might change if we made space for small moments of rest throughout our day? A mindful walk outside, enjoying our favourite meal without disturbances, spending a few quiet moments reading a book or taking deep breaths before moving on to tasks within the day – all these may seem small, but these intentional moments can help us to recharge before reaching a point of exhaustion.
If you’re looking for a place to begin, we invite you to revisit our previous Invitations to Rest blogs, where we explore:
Each blog offers ideas and reflections that may inspire you as you continue developing what rest looks like for you.
How We Rest at Strive
As a team, we know rest looks different for everyone, and we as a community should remember there is no ‘right’ way to rest. What matters most is finding activities that leave us feeling refreshed and restored. Some of the ways we enjoy resting are:
Taking walks outside and spending time at the beach
Reading books, listening to podcasts, or enjoying music
Connecting with our friends and family
Exploring creative hobbies (crafting, journaling, baking, etc.)
Practicing mindfulness through yoga or quiet reflection
Watching our favourite movies or television shows
Enjoying a glass of coffee or tea
Sitting outside and appreciating nature
No matter what rest looks like for you, know it does not need to be time-consuming or ‘perfect.’ Even a few intentional moments throughout the day can make a meaningful difference.
As August unfolds, we invite you to give yourself permission to slow down. Rest is not something you need to earn; it is something you deserve! By caring for ourselves, we can strengthen our ability to care for others and continuous learning, and show up in both our professional and personal lives.
We hope you’ll join us in making space for the rest of the month.
How are you planning to rest in August? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
References
Trauernicht, M., Anders, Y., Oppermann, E., & Klusmann, U. (2023). Early childhood educators’ emotional exhaustion and the frequency of educational activities in preschool. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 31(6), 1016-1032.