Self-Care Experiment #2: Afternoon Rests

Verdict: 🌟 OBSESSED. Must Try!

I didn’t plan on resting. Actually, I planned to do a sun salutation (or three) every afternoon at 3:00 pm—right when the slump hits and chocolate usually calls. I even set a reminder on my phone to keep me accountable.

But on the first day of the experiment, I was in the middle of moving out of the granny flat I’d been living in—my beautiful friend had passed away suddenly in December, and I was relocating to my mum’s house. My body was sore, I had a sinus infection, and I was exhausted. The last thing I wanted was movement.

So I did something unexpected: I changed the experiment.

I let my body guide me, and I chose afternoon rests instead.

How it went...

I rested every afternoon for six out of seven days—sometimes a nap, sometimes just lying down. At first, I felt unsure. But as the week went on, it became clear that this wasn’t just physical rest. It was emotional composting.

I’d been “holding it all together” since my friend died in December—teaching classes, showing up, pushing through. And when I finally paused, I realised just how much I’d been carrying.

These rests gave me the space to grieve, to reflect, and to soften. They made me feel like richer soil—like I was becoming ready for what’s next.

The compost metaphor (yes, really)

I'm not much of a gardener, but the image came to me: Resting isn’t doing nothing. It’s composting. It’s quiet, yes. But deep work is happening underneath.

And after a week of rests, I feel more refreshed, more capable, and more grounded than I have in a long time.

My Honest Verdict

🌟 OBSESSED. Must Try!

This was one of the most nourishing, necessary experiments I’ve done (so far… I’ve only done 2).

And while I know not everyone has the ability to rest every afternoon—especially if you work full-time or have young kids—I encourage you to carve out even one day, maybe on the weekend, to lie down.

Give yourself a few days in a row, if you can. Not just for physical rest, but to let your soul catch up.

Next Week’s Experiment…

I’m trying something new in the mornings. (Wish me luck—I’m pretty set in my ways in the morning.) I’ll report back next week with how it goes.

Until then—please be kind to yourself.
To your body. Your mind. Your spirit.
You are worth the pause. 💛

Emma xx