By: Sway & O.L Buckley/ Richard L. Smith
Integris Health reports that up to 73% of Americans say stress impacts their mental health.
It's no wonder why so many are burned out (even from their own business). The misnomer is that you won't burn out if you're doing what you love.
But the reality is that we are futile human beings with limited capacity. Our job is to maximize that capacity, not to burn it out.
For context, we know firsthand how running businesses can have you going non-stop and it can turn you and your spouse into roommates (we've been there and vow never to go back).
But it's one thing to pause for the cause (which is your health), but it's another thing to actually pause your mind. Just because you aren't working doesn't mean you're resting (mentally).
Unbeknownst to many, improper rest (not to be confused with sleep) plays an intricate part in leading a high-stressed life that impacts mental health.
The misconception is often that there are too many items on the To Do List to rest, but the truth is, there are too many on the list NOT to rest… especially as marriedpreneurs.
When boundaries are initially implemented, it will feel irresponsible not to be working once you've shut down. That's normal. But on the other side of the new normal is an improved and optimized life.
Early in marriage, we realized we were on a downward spiral when we lacked proper business boundaries.
This meant our marriage and our lives revolved around the business- which proved to be highly toxic. We found a better way- and that way is the discipline of REST.
But don't just take our word for it, below are 7 reasons rest impacts mental health and must be a priority on your marriedpreneur journey.
Rest is vital for robust mental health because it supports,
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increased concentration and memory
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a healthier immune system
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reduced stress
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improved mood
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a better metabolism
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lowered blood pressure and increased blood flow
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decrease in anxiety, depression and insomnia.
Getting into your 'rest zone' may require a change of scenery to build discipline. New Jersey, The Garden State, is a great place to find ways to relax and appreciate nature.
*Bonus* For us personally, as Christians, proper rest spiritually refocuses us because it requires us to trust God. For us, this is a primary benefit for us to have a lifestyle of rest while building businesses.
Hopefully, this article has convinced you, if nothing else, of the serious requirement of rest for this marriedpreneur journey.
If you're struggling to start, you'll want to implement simple systems to hold you both accountable each rest day.
In our homes, we make plans to keep our minds occupied with leisure activities we enjoy. Then we have steps to track our consistency and growth.
This simple accountability tool is a smaller part of the Marriepreneur Operating Systems to help married couples in business streamline and scale their business without straining the marriage. We've created an opportunity to teach the step-by-step process at our Marriedpreneur Mastermind Retreat.
You can learn more at GetSystemsNow.Com.
Note: O.L is a former banker turned real estate consultant and entrepreneur. Sway is a former CEO of a staffing firm started on her dorm room floor to pay for college. Together they co-own Marriedpreneur Life Consultancy where they equip married entrepreneur couples with high level systems to scale without strain. Learn more at MarriedpreneurLife.com