The Art of Rest: Essential Wisdom for Your Retirement Journey

Sometimes life hands us stark reminders about the importance of self-care. Recently, I experienced this firsthand when a significant fall left me with a bruised forehead and two black eyes - just before embarking on a wildlife tracking course in South Africa. Rather than seeking immediate medical attention, I chose to start my journey (bus-train-plane). My concern was that after a few hours in A&E, they would send me home and tell me to rest, by which time I would have missed my flight and not be able to claim off the insurance.

While I managed the journey, this experience prompted deeper reflection on how we approach rest and recovery in our later years.

As both a retirement psychologist and someone navigating these challenges at 67, I've come to understand that mastering the art of rest isn't just about physical recovery - it's about making conscious choices that honour our changing needs. This wisdom is particularly crucial as we prepare for and navigate retirement.

Why Rest Matters More Than We Think

Research reveals that effective rest encompasses physical, cognitive, and emotional recovery. As we age, our cognitive processing and attention management evolve, making traditional multitasking more challenging and potentially risky. This isn't about limitation - it's about adaptation and optimisation.

Studies show that cognitive load directly impacts physical coordination and balance. When we maintain previous levels of multitasking (like simultaneously walking and using mobile phones), we may inadvertently increase our risk of accidents. The brain requires focused attention for safe movement, particularly in challenging environments.

The New Understanding of Rest

Rest isn't merely the absence of activity. Current research identifies three distinct types of recovery we need:

1. Physical Rest: Beyond sleep, this includes periods of reduced activity where the body can recover. The key is avoiding the temptation to combine multiple activities.

2. Mental Rest: This doesn't mean doing nothing. Reading or engaging in focused, singular activities can be restful. The crucial factor is avoiding cognitive overload from multitasking.

3. Sensory Rest: Creating periods of reduced sensory stimulation becomes increasingly important as we age. The quality of rest often improves when we consciously reduce environmental stimulation.

Practical Strategies for Better Rest

The most effective approach I've found with my clients is implementing structured rest through timeboxing - allocating specific periods for different activities. This creates clear boundaries between focused work, rest periods, and other activities.

Key strategies include:

Designating specific times for focused work

Establishing rest periods without electronic devices

Allowing single-task activities to be truly single-task

Planning rest periods with the same priority as active tasks

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Why This Matters for Your Retirement Journey

Understanding and implementing effective rest isn't about reducing activity or accepting limitation. Instead, it's about optimising our capacity for safe, sustained engagement in meaningful activities. The quality of our rest directly impacts the quality of our retirement life.

As a retirement coach, I've seen how proper rest and recovery strategies can transform the retirement experience. They're essential components of retirement preparation that often get overlooked in traditional financial planning.

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Are you planning for retirement or recently retired? I specialise in helping professionals create meaningful, balanced retirement journeys that address both the psychological and practical aspects of this significant life transition. My evidence-based approach includes strategies for maintaining health, finding purpose, and creating structure - including mastering the art of rest. Let's explore how you can prepare for a more fulfilling retirement. Connect with me to learn more about my retirement coaching services

Dr Denise Taylor is on a mission to reclaim, reframe (and rethink!) retirement. It is not retiring and slowing down but a new phase of life where we have more freedom and flexibility to live a life the way we want.

Denise has been involved in retirement planning for almost 40 years. At 64 she gained her doctorate having researched how people find meaning in life after full-time work. To share this widely her latest book – Rethinking Retirement for Positive Ageing is on sale, published by Routledge. Dr Denise is a Chartered Psychologist, and also a wilderness rites of passage guide combining her interest in transitions and ritual with a love of nature. Beyond her work she gains great fulfilment through owning a private wood.