Wellness For Domestic Violence Survivors: The Importance Of Balancing Rest And Activity

Balancing activity and rest sounds so simple, yet is extremely significant to our well-being and proper functioning. I see domestic violence survivors often ignore this. Doing so compounds their stress.

It is as though they believe that they must do, do and do until they drop. Or, they find themselves under a blanket of depression that prevents one from doing much of anything.


Domestic Violence and Ignoring Personal Maintenance

Now, I don’t honestly believe that their having been exposed to domestic violence is the cause for not being vigilant about balancing activity and rest. I think it has more to do with the habits they have acquired along the way.

If you’re accustomed to the world revolving around another person, you loss sight of your own internal clock. And if you believe that you are second to this “other person,” then you may even be accustomed to denying the internal signals that come your way.

Some people may even tell you this is a social cultural male-female stereo-type tradition. I believe the conditioning of, and in, abusive relationships is a significant factor for domestic abuse survivors.

Be mindful of your possible predisposition toward this and cultivate habits designed to balance activity and rest. You will find that when you do, your rest is deeper, more restorative and more satisfying. And your activity is more enjoyable, productive and also more satisfying.

3 Tips to Balance Activity and Rest

In closing, I’ll leave you with three starting tips for developing these habits.

1) Make sure you are in bed by 10:00 PM every night. And if your head can meet the pillow earlier, even better.

2) Build into your day the routine of deep wakeful rest (more profound than an ordinary nap) and

3) Exercise appropriate to your health and conditioning.

It’s the simple-little things that often make the biggest difference over time.