The Importance of Rest on Adventures

This blog short originally appeared on Instagram. Follow me at @disabledinthewild7

One of my favorite messages to share with other chronically ill and disabled outdoor lovers is: Rest!

I'll never forget the first time I talked about this on Instagram. Someone commented that she struggled with feeling symptoms coming on as she was hiking and it would scare her so much that she would rush off the trail and back to the car as fast as she could before the symptoms could get worse- and it had never occurred to her to just sit down on the trail, rest, and pace herself. This was one of the first times I realized I could actually make a difference in this space, and that I had something to offer others: the lessons I learned from my own illnesses and disabilities along the way.

Rest is something that a lot of us struggle with, myself included. So many of us are ambitious overachievers who don't know how to rest or quit, and it doesn't help that we live in a world that tells us to ignore our bodies and push through symptoms at all costs, as if hurting ourselves for the sake of 'doing the thing' is somehow worthy of celebration.

The hard part is not pushing through or trying to do more. The hard part is slowing down, taking breaks, and listening to what our bodies need; it's letting go of expectations, unlearning how we've been conditioned to approach the outdoors, and remembering that we are not out here to rush through it, conquer it, show off, or be in competition.

The reason we spend time outdoors is to connect with nature and our bodies; to enjoy the views, the sounds, and our body's wonderful abilities; to be in the moment, enjoy our lives, and admire the beautiful world we live in.

When we recognize that simply enjoying the outdoors is the goal, it's easier to let our bodies lead the way, to determine how far and how fast we go, to be mindful of our symptoms and know when our bodies need tending to, when it's time to rest and when it's time to go home. Because if the goal is to enjoy ourselves outdoors, then we must also enjoy-or at least tolerate- being in our bodies while we're out there.

So, I like to share this as a reminder from time to time. Let's all remember to take good care of ourselves while we're enjoying the outdoors.

If you’d like to read more about how I explore the outdoors, check out this short adventure story: www.disabledinthewild.com/blog/challis-hilltop-a-short-adventure-story