Therest and be thankful

Claudia’s book sets out how to make the most of your down time

Today, being busy has become like a badge of honour. People want to say they’ve got a packed schedule – but when life is too hectic, they end up just doing too much and feeling exhausted. Recognising the need to take time is the subject of a book, The Art Of Rest.

And author Claudia Hammond, who presents health programmes on Radio 4 and the BBC World Service, is on a mission to encourage us to slow down and take time out.

“Rest is not a luxury, it’s a necessity,” Claudia explained.“it’s essential. But many of us aren’t getting enough rest.

“We actually have more free time now than people did in the 1950s, but we somehow manage to fill it.”

In today’s society, people’s lives are frantic. We have mobile phones and laptops, which mean we can still be checking emails or answering calls into the night, long after we have left work.

In fact, switching off has never been more of a challenge.

However, Claudia is hopeful her book can change the way we think about rest.

“Today, rest doesn’t get taken too seriously,” she said. “It’s what we do when everything else is done.

“It’s no surprise that sleep has been taken more seriously recently, now that it has been recognised how much of an impact it has on our health. But rest is the next thing we should look at. Much of value has been written about sleep, but rest is not the same thing. It is how we unwind, calm our minds and recharge our bodies.

“And how much rest you get linked to your sense of wellbeing.”

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