17 Ways to Support Rest & Recovery
My parents' dog, Tucker, who was inexplicably restless for weeks until he got a cozy new bed. Photo by Quinn Corte, 2022.
Listen to the audio version below:
We know that recovery is important. But here’s the catch: there's no recipe for recovery.
What we need in order to recover physically, emotionally, and mentally is constantly changing. Recovery could mean rest and relaxation, or a break from work. But it could also mean that you need to fill your empty well with beauty or laughter or fun.
Sometimes the mind may recover best by staring into space and not looking at devices for 30 minutes, but other times the mind might need a full-on social media break for two months in order to refuel.
Check in with yourself about what you actually need, instead of what you think you need. Notice what restores your energy and life force, and what drains it.
Here are a few tips for supporting recovery:
When you can’t focus, get up and do something nourishing. Don’t push through.
Instead of simply resting, fold in silliness, pleasure, and joy.
If you're giving too much, pull back and receive. If you're receiving too much, lean forward and give back.
Embrace blank space. I like to bring tea to sit on the porch without my phone and stare into space.
Try to oblige your body’s cravings for certain foods and sensations.
Don’t view recovery as a race from feeling bad to feeling better. Focus on what's present now with no expectations for later, like “I have more energy this morning” instead of "I'm all better now."
Prioritize sleep. Life is easier when you're well-rested.
Remember that the body knows what it needs, even if you don’t listen.
Talk about how you’re actually feeling. Do “wellness checks” with friends to normalize fatigue or sadness.
Note the people in your life who are recovering. Ask how you can support them.
Lower your expectations. Show up when you have to, but don’t worry about bringing your best self.
Spend time in nature and with loved ones, two of the most healing balms.
Let yourself slow down. I made a sign that says, “slow is safe.”
Nurture your animal body with regular meals, plenty of water, movement, and affection.
When your brain wants to do all the things and your body says “nope,” allow for disappointment but honor your limits.
Practice saying, “I don’t have the capacity for this right now.”
Practice asking, “Do you have the capacity for this right now?”
"Recovery, stability, health — I know those terms mean different things to different people, in different bodies, with different situations. But on a societal scale, I also know this: we recover together — or not at all."
– Anne Helen Petersen, in her essay That's a Stress Response
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