Many of us are created by God to be very good at doing things and staying busy, but we simply don’t know how to slow down. We proudly say we have a “Type A personality.” We hit the ground running in the morning and just don’t stop until we fall into bed at night. While this lifestyle of constant activity can make us feel important and like we have accomplished a lot, we often miss out on the voice of God speaking to us and directing us in new ways.

Our personalities and the way we were raised are certainly factors in how busy we like to be. But we often don’t consider why we are that way, and how much of it is God’s will versus our own self-validation. Think about this: how much time did your parents spend relaxing, whether it was alone, with you, or with friends? Did they live a life that was balanced between work and play? Some of our parents, in particular our fathers, worked most of the time and were not very good at slowing down to relax. Some parents never played with us when we were kids; they were “too busy”. But some parents played ball with us in the backyard or had tea parties with us.

Now consider how much time you spend relaxing.

Do you spend time talking with your spouse every day? Do you play with your kids? Do you take a few minutes to play with your dog or pet your cat? Do you read fiction? Do you do a craft? Whether it is tinkering on your car or baking cheesecake, we all need something we can do that relaxes us and allows us to be who God made us to be.

Yes, there are definitely seasons in life that require 50-60 hour work weeks, or 18 hour days raising young children. But even in those seasons, you need to make some time to slow down. Just taking one full minute at your desk to close your eyes and relax your body, doing nothing, will not slow down your work flow. It helps you remember God and His purpose for all you are doing, and allows his Spirit to work more effectively through you. If you are raising children, take time to play with them. It doesn’t have to be 2 hours, but just being silly for 15 minutes goes a long way for you and for them. Take time in the evening to just be present with your spouse. Talk about your day without the television on or cell phones…just connect.

Another thought on being busy: just because you are doing things doesn’t mean you are accomplishing anything or being productive. Do you ever wonder where the time goes? This is often a sign we have been busy with less important tasks and have not done the things that really matter. Also, we can move too quickly, feeling like we just have to squeeze it all in to “finish”. When we speed up the pace, we often lose productivity and make mistakes. Like the Navy Seals say, “slow is smooth, smooth is fast.” You’ll have more peace and joy if you slow down a bit and enjoy the journey.

God has created us to work hard but also rest.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28 Rest is not only in God’s plan for us, but absolutely crucial to your health and wellbeing! Take time today to be more intentional with your relaxation time. It is God’s gift to you.