5 Radical Rest Ideas for the Holidays

Guest post with Johanna Andersson

Introduction to Johanna Andersson and LIVING REST

When I connected with Stockholm-based yoga teacher and energy healer Johanna Andersson, I was excited to find someone who advocated for rest.

At Our Uncertain Future, we write about slow living in all forms and rest is such an essential part of that. In our busy modern world, many people don’t give themselves opportunities for rest because of guilt associated with a lack of productivity. I used to feel that way. I thought I had to be productive all the time or I was lazy and worthless. It took a lot of deprogramming to relieve myself of that false rigid thinking that did not align with my values.

In the northern hemisphere as the living world around us turns inward and seeks restful hibernation and dark quietude, humans are running around shopping and planning events. There is an obvious disconnect.

This week, we are so grateful that Johanna (yes, same name, different person) shared her writing with us on rest and ways to rest during this often hectic time of year. For more of her writing, visit her beautiful Substack LIVING REST and subscribe.

And now for Johanna…

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Johanna Andersson

Why Resting is so Hard

I tell you to rest — as if it were easy. But it’s not. In fact, resting is really f*ing hard. I know, because I have to convince my rebellious brain and persistent programming to prioritize rest every single day. Still, I often fail.

And no wonder it’s a struggle. To rest is to go against everything society wants us to believe — that we always have to do and perform to be worthy. To have value. It’s so deeply ingrained in us that we can’t imagine another way. We think that being stressed and tired is life. That’s just how it is. We endure. Then we die. Everyone else seems to accept this, so why shouldn’t we?

But that’s a lie. You shouldn’t. Because that’s not life. If anything, it’s a quiet kind of hell.

And doing the opposite of what everyone else is doing takes courage. Doing the opposite of what your own mind tells you is a radical act of bravery.

Resting is a Radical Act of Bravery

And we need that bravery now. Not just for ourselves, but for future generations. For this planet. Shifting the energy of the collective begins with you choosing rest today. Because rest is the only way. The only way to break the vicious cycles of stress and exhaustion that keep us trapped — separated from each other, and from ourselves.

In my mind, rest is the beginning of everything. The first and only step forward. There’s no way around it. When you slow down, calm down, soften — when your nervous system finally gets to exhale — you begin to see what’s actually true. For you. And even though it might feel scary at first, you’ll soon discover how wonderful it is to feel again. To feel your body. Your emotions. The sunlight on your face. The wind in your hair. The touch of someone you love. That is life. Not numbing, but feeling. Feeling it all.

And then life stops being something that just happens to you. It becomes something you actively want to experience. Because life is not meant to be endured — it’s meant to be lived. All of it. The light and the dark. The bitter and the sweet. The ups and the downs. Yes, it’s a rollercoaster. But that’s part of its beauty. There is no light without darkness. No joy without pain. No love — or courage — without fear.

And the fear you feel around rest is real. That resistance is trying to protect you. To keep you in the familiar. The predictable. You probably know stress and exhaustion so well — they may even be part of your identity. Who would you be without them? And if you chose rest, you might also face the judgement or discomfort of others. Because people don’t always want you to change. They don’t know the well-rested you. They don’t know your radiance. Your power. So they prefer to keep you the same. To keep you in their cage.

But the question is: Are you going to let them?

5 Radical Rest Ideas for the Holidays

1. Sleep 8-9 hours a night (or more)

Face your FOMO and prioritize deep rest so you can restore, recharge, and heal. What would it feel like to be truly well-rested after this holiday season?

2. Explore a daily rest practice

Regulate your nervous system and fuel your creativity with a deeply restorative yoga nidrā recording (guided rest practice). You officially have permission to lie down and do nothing for 15-20 minutes every single day.

Discover NIDRISTA’s growing audio collection here.

3. Go on silent nature walks

Take some probably much-needed alone time and marvel at nature’s beauty — in silence (no music, talking, podcasts, etc.). Go slowly, gently, and mindfully to get back in rhythm with yourself. And maybe find a quiet place to sit and nature-gaze.

4. Befriend your breath

How you breathe has a huge impact on your health and well-being — and your breath tells you a lot about how you’re doing. The key to re-establishing healthy breathing is to breathe through your nose, into the belly, using your diaphragm. Always. Day and night (even when you exercise). This will naturally calm your nervous system and activate its rest-and-digest response.

5. Avoid alcohol, sugar, coffee, social media, and habitual doing…

This is easier said than done, of course, but not impossible. Maybe this is the season to gently detox from least one of these habits — replacing them perhaps with movement, rest, and conscious breathing — knowing that they’re all blocking your well-rested life. And on the other side await the glorious feelings of freedom, peace, and joy.

Rest to rise,

Johanna

Stockholm-based yoga teacher and energy healer Johanna Andersson is on a mission to restore rest in a world addicted to doing. Through LIVING REST and NIDRISTA, she guides you back into your true potential and power — saving the world, one well-rested human being at a time.

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Now Available Online

A Winter Solstice Writing session in three parts mirroring the solstice sun. Gaze into the darkness, restore in the stillness and revive in the new light. A 90-minute asynchronous generative micro-writing class great for memoirists, nature writers, ecopreneurs, or anyone looking to explore their connection to Nature. Utilize meditation and embodiment practices to tap into your creative muse and banish your critical mind that keeps you from writing with your authentic voice. Only $15.

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