Richard Lister - Radical Rest

Note from the author

This book is not meant to be a one-size-fits-all solution. I want you, the beautiful, powerful, smart and canny human that you are, to find the bits that work for you and use them. Use them until they dont work, or until something better comes along.

If something here doesnt work for you, awesome! Youve learned about yourself. This is true power.

I believe that everything I have shared here is true and has been backed up by science and good practice. The world changes and life changes.

If you decide to take a new supplement or change your exercise routine, please check with your doctor first, especially if you take regular medication or have a chronic health condition. I am a medical professional, but Im not your medical professional, so please be sure to take responsibility for what you put into your body and what you do with it.

Contents

Rest. Weve been led to believe that its quite the indulgence: doing nothing, when theres a never-ending list of things that need to be done. Rest is something that you only get to do when all the things on the list are done, right?

WRONG. Rest is radical. And Im not just saying that because I teach and share the principles of Radical Rest.

We live in a hectic, busy, technology-driven world. We have mobile phones, tablets and computers, all beeping and demanding our attention 24 hours a day. We have pressure at work, deadlines to meet and projects to complete. We have families to look after and communicate with (something most of us feel like were failing at every day). We have never-ending to-do lists and lives that we long to live fully, but all of these stresses and strains of modern living are creating unease, pain and discomfort in our minds, our bodies and our psyches. These problems manifest as stress, trauma, depression and/or anxiety, low sex drive, fertility issues, menstrual health issues, a lack of sleep, a lack of energy a lack of pretty much everything.

Some people manage the symptoms with prescription drugs; others turn to marijuana and gin, while others look to plant-based medicine and entheogens to help take the edge off.

In a society where, right now, its seen as a revolutionary act to be happy, its clear that we need a new approach. We need Radical Rest. Radical rest is the antidote to a highly pressurised, fear-filled, technological age.

Im writing this during the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, a time when many people around the world have been forced to pause; a time when it has become clear that the old systems the ones that had us all living at super-fast speed, in a constant state of doing, working long hours, reacting rather than responding, and experiencing burnout, anxiety and depression are no longer working.

This enforced pause has been a global reminder that rest is, indeed, radical.

The act of slowing down, making the time and space to simply be rather than do, allows our bodies to reset, recharge and harmonise with the natural rhythm of nature. My wish is that, in this sacred global pause, we will recognise and remember why rest is radical. When we rest, we heal. Our immunity increases, our resilience grows, anxiety and depression are reduced, and recovery is possible.

Rest is essential.

Rest is when you stop doing and allow your body and system time to recover and repair. Its something you can, and absolutely should, schedule into your day and life. Its your most potent self-care resource and needs to be something we respect and value as a way to manage and maintain our human energy system.

Rest lets us unplug from the relentless demands of the nine-to-five work pattern. This pattern often means were abruptly woken from our natural rest and restorative sleep pattern by an alarm, which ultimately impacts how we experience the day and manage our energy. When we are jarred awake like this, our bodies start the day stressed and on the lookout. Our emotions are automatically more strained, all because we woke ourselves up with a shock.

For many of us, as soon as the alarm goes off in the morning, we are in a rush; were not present in our bodies. This can lead to us making poor decisions about life, love and everything else throughout the day. And yet we keep doing it. We are caught in this loop because weve been taught that everything that is worthwhile is outside ourselves: so we strive, work hard, tick off all the achievements and make money to buy things. In doing so, we further solidify the idea that anything of value is outside ourselves, and that everything inside ourselves is worthless.

This is why making time for rest is radical, because when you lie down and rest, you stop: you pause, you create space in your system and you recognise whats actually important. (Clue: your own inner wisdom. Except youve rarely been still and quiet for long enough to hear it.)

This book is a reminder that, when faced with information overload, along with high levels of stress, anxiety and burnout, rest is necessary.

Radical Rest is a collection of dynamic tools, practices, prescriptions and suggestions that you can tailor to meet your needs. These tools are for everyone, from all walks of life and any belief system. Youll find that they are often built upon medical science, cutting-edge neuroscience and ancient yogic and Ayurvedic practices.

Im a registered Nurse, and evidence-based practice is my jam. If I cant back it up, its not in here. Im also a health and feel-better Coach, Master NLP (neuro-linguistic programming) practitioner, TRE (Tension, Stress and Trauma Release) practitioner, integrated health and rehab specialist, yoga teacher, massage therapist and Ayurveda practitioner. I have worked in the NHS for more than fifteen years, most of which I have spent in the accident and emergency department.

I experienced a breakdown back in 2013, which led me to study alternative health care. I discovered that rest is radical, so I now work with my feet firmly in both camps, meaning Im able to provide a holistic approach to healthcare and wellness.

Of course, we need sleep. But radical rest is not sleep. Its how you get the best from your body by ensuring that the living, biological systems you were born with work in the best way possible. You can do this by mitigating and managing the stress you experience.

When were stressed, we cant rest.

We live in an environment that is overloading us with information. Our whole world is set up to be productive. We even measure the values of our countries by their Gross Domestic Product (GDP): in other words, the money they produce. This is a symptom of how our culture has evolved: more productivity, more stuff, more creation, more stimulation.

This is great for the bottom line in business, but its not so good for the human experience.

Right now, weve got the highest ever recorded levels of anxiety and stress. Eighty-five to ninety-five per cent of US doctors appointments are stress-related; people are burning out left, right and centre; and being overwhelmed is starting to cause chronic health problems.