LAST DAY TO ENTER $500 Container Store Giveaway!!  Details below post…

Today, I stood in front of my office door, and was frustrated that I couldn’t get it unlocked. The sad thing was, it took me about 3 minutes to realize that I had a firm grip on the keyless entry for my car, and was fervently jabbing my thumb into the button as I pointed it at my office door. This event was a pretty good indication as to how my day was going to unfold. It seemed as if every task took longer, every conversation required more focus, and my attention span resembled that of a 9 week old kitten. When I go for several days without a good night’s sleep, my ability to function declines at a drastic pace.

Depriving ourselves of valuable rest in the name of accomplishing more sets us up for days like this. I am ridiculously guilty of downing multiple cups of coffee in an attempt to override my body’s protests of my lack of sleep. Our bodies were designed with limitations, which mean that on a regular basis, our bodies will tell us that we need something that is pertinent to our survival. Rest is one of those essentials. Without regular rest, our entire body suffers, which in turn means that everything that we are involved in, such as our work and relationships, is going to be affected. Even though it seems like the perfect solution in our fast paced world, burning the candle at both ends has long term detrimental results.

Traditional Spanish culture recognizes the value of rest. On a daily basis, a siesta, or period of rest, is built into the normal activities. They are willing to carve out specific time to allow their body a chance to rejuvenate. The intentional acknowledgment that we are designed for down time gives us permission to function within our limits.

So as we wrap up our tour of the wonders of Spain, see if there are areas where you might be running a bit ragged. Are there facets of your life that could benefit from a rest? You don’t need to wait until your next vacation to incorporate your own version of the siesta!

photo istockphoto.com

$500 GIVEAWAY!!
It’s a back-to-school giveaway! We are giving away a $500 Container Store gift card to one lucky reader, chosen by random.org.

To Enter
Leave a comment on any article today through midnight CST August 12th AND become a member of our community forum. Please use same email address for both commenting and joining the community forum.  Winner’s email addresses will need to match.

Winner
Readers can enter as many times as they like, by leaving a comment on any article AND by joining our community forum. Winner will be announced on Saturday, August 14th at 5:00 am CST as part of the Top Twelve article. Good luck!