So, I was actually nearly done with the new Rest products on Monday evening and would have had this out early yesterday morning, but Monday was a literal hellscape. My day started by throwing out my back and seeing spots; I still have no idea if these were connected. But the spots reminded me of a migraine aura, except I had
no migraine pain.
But I did have horrible, severe, debilitating back pain. I could barely walk, and just getting through the first few hours of the day until it let up a little was brutal. And of course, in classic Jenn fashion, no part of me thought - maybe my body needs rest?
No, I just kept writing about how important rest and recharging is, and how you should listen to your body when it is telling you to slow down, but absolutely did not relate it to me being in severe pain at all.
It didn't stop me from working, but it did slow me down
considerably. Though not as much as a few hours later in the afternoon when I was once again seeing spots (seriously, what was that), lost my balance and accidentally put my entire hand in burning hot soup.
I have obviously burned my hand before, we all have. But this was another level. It did not stop burning for probably 4-5 hours (despite the cold
compress, the pain relievers, all the things), and this was like my peak working time, which is why I didn't finish on this until yesterday afternoon. The entire night before, I could not even use my right hand (and I'm right-handed), so I was barely able to do anything.
There has got to be some kind of irony about being forced to rest while working on a
product about rest - and knowing the entire time how overworked I am. But continuing to write about how important rest is.
I used to have this toxic attitude that the more I worked, the more I pushed through the pain, the less sleep I got, the more I denied myself rest - the more successful I was. I don't even know where this incredibly
toxic thought process came from, but it was actually my friend and previous business partner who pointed out how unhealthy this was.
And he was right.
I did eventually listen - but slowly. And I am
getting better, but sometimes when I feel like I am just getting back on track and in my work groove, I still push through the (literal) pain.
Unfortunately, I had a hard lesson about the importance of Rest and at the funniest, most ironic time ever.
So I guess, don't let your audience make the same mistake and help them understand how important Rest is?
