Could Rest be the Missing Key to Your Company's Success?
Johanna shares the deeper philosophy behind NIDRISTA — and how integrating rest into your workflow can transform both performance and well-being.
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It’s been just over three weeks since I released NIDRISTA — my new rest business — into the world, and about a month since it became my full-time occupation. I quit my copywriting gig and took a leap of faith, as my mission (saving the world one well-rested human being at a time) simply couldn’t wait no longer. And building a new company from scratch has got me thinking a lot about workflows, structures, and routines — and about what kind of set-up would help me thrive.
I’m someone who has always valued freedom, flexibility, and sovereignty in my work life. Starting my own company at 19, I’ve been freelancing in fashion as a stylist, editor, and copywriter for the majority of the years since (I’m 36 now) — the exception being two years of employment at a fashion tech start-up, and one year as a fashion assistant at ELLE Magazine.
However, in hindsight, I realise that the freedom you have as a freelancer was somewhat wasted on me. The societal programming chaining us all to desks and rigid work structures, keeping us in a constant fear of underperforming or not doing enough, was running my life as well. With all the freedom in the world, I still conformed to a life of stress, anxiety, and exhaustion — constantly over-achieving and pushing myself too hard.
But this way of working isn’t sustainable, and it can’t go on forever without severe health consequences (read my personal story of how I turned a health crisis into a calling). There will come a day when you simply must uncage yourself, and when it comes, the opposite is truly the medicine.
So, as I’m creating my new work reality with NIDRISTA, I have a chance to make it right from the start — and what should a rest business be if not restful, especially for the person running it?
While I’m personally applying all of the action steps suggested below to my own professional life, I realise of course that they’re not realistic to all businesses. However, I’m certain that some parts are applicable to many work situations, and can hopefully inspire the paradigm shift our tired, overworked beings are begging for.
Please share this article with every company leader and working person you know.
NIDRISTA’S PHILOSPHY
Here’s what I believe: When you’re well-rested — and your nervous system is regulated — you can truly achieve anything. From that space, you unlock your true potential and power. That’s when you’re at your most creative and productive. That’s when you can show up (to work) as your favourite version of yourself.
This is why integrating holistic rest practices into your workflow will increase your company’s performance, well-being, and success. By recognising the importance and potency of rest, you’ll have happier, more content employees who thrive — instead of just survive.
ACTION STEPS FOR WORK-LIFE SUCCESS
Educate on Rest
The first step, of course, is to educate yourself and your team members on the power of rest — recognising that many things affect our performance, such as how we breathe, sleep, eat, move, and relate to our surroundings. Even gut health and emotional patterns play a part. It’s all connected. NIDRISTA is here to help with that.
Book a rest session here or give everyone at work a LIVING REST subscription.
Promote Rest Breaks
Especially in the afternoon, when energy is low, it’s the perfect time use a yoga nidrā recording (guided rest practice) as a way to reset and recharge. All that’s needed is a quiet place to lie down, or even to sit comfortably. If you’ve only got 15 minutes, you’ll still feel the effects (however it may take a few times to learn how to relax fully).
And anytime you feel stuck in your work, and would normally just push through (often without really getting anywhere and ending up even more stressed and frustrated) a nidrā does wonders, too. It’s not uncommon to — in the liminal space between wakefulness and sleep — suddenly know just what to do. A real game-changer for creatives and artists, like myself.
Read: How to Create a Daily Rest Practice
Establish Time for Recovery
All stressful work periods should be followed by a recovery period where the workload is lighter and less intense — maybe even including some extra time for recreation and restoration.
The reason being that the body can only handle shorter periods of stress (activation of the autonomic nervous system’s sympathetic response), which must always be succeeded by a longer period of rest (activation of the parasympathetic response) — or else we risk ending up in a chronic state of stress, with all the health problems that follow.
Think of it like interval training: periods of activation followed by periods of recovery. Without the latter, the system burns out.
If a work ad says “this is for you who thrive in a high-paced work environment” I’d say “sure, as long as you’re serious about recovery, or else I’ll pass”. Because unless you know how to regulate your nervous system really well, you can’t constantly keep a high pace without having to face the consequences at some point.
Allow for Flexibility and Freedom
This is really about seeing and respecting the individual. Rigid work structures might not serve everyone. Some people, depending on their personality and life circumstances (hello, parents) may thrive in an environment that allows for more flexibility and freedom in how, when, and where they work — while others may prefer more structure and routines. Why not offer both?
This is not just about seeing the individual, but trusting them to know what’s best for themselves — which will also be what’s best for your business.
Schedule Wellness
Self-employed people, like myself, have no excuse not to schedule self-care into their workdays. This may be exercise, therapy, body work, saunas, yoga nidrā, walks in nature… whatever elevates your frequency and promotes your well-being. After all, if you’re not meeting your own needs, your performance will suffer — and as will your business.
But this should be true for all. Some companies already offer wellness or sports hours once a week, which is amazing, but I’m curious to know what would happen if self-care became part of the daily work routine…
Reframe Lunches
Why not reimagine lunch as a ritual of nourishment and presence?
Today, too many people are shoving down their lunches in front of their computers. As I see it, this behaviour is only adding more stress to your already overloaded body (a safe assumption if you don’t feel like you have time to break for lunch). As eating when you’re stressed is likely to negatively impact your digestion, it may also lead to poor gut health and malnourishment in the long run — stress leading to more stress.
In my opinion, it is vital to take a proper lunch break in your workday, and to consider in what energy you’re eating your food. The best thing to do is to find a peaceful spot to sit (noice-cancelling headphones with no or calming music are great if you’re in an office or restaurant), feet firmly on the ground, and to eat slowly, chewing properly, with presence.
Breathing slowly through your nose, into your belly, at the same time will help calm your nervous system and aid digestion as well.
Encourage Daily Walks
Getting outside in the middle of the day to expose yourself to natural light is a great way of boosting your mood and energy levels that also supports your circadian rhythm — leading to better quality of sleep and increased work performance. A gentle walk after a meal is also great for digestion.
And why not combine business with pleasure in a walk-and-talk meeting? Did you know that walking side by side increases the feeling of moving in the same direction — both literally and metaphorically?
Offer Consecutive Holidays
In Sweden, where I live, you generally have the right to four weeks consecutive holiday in the summer and at least one more week in the year, which makes sense in a northern country where most of the year is cold and dark. This, together with bank holidays and weekends, allows for a decent amount of rest and recovery. However, I’m curious to know if there are other ways to structure holidays...
For instance, I’ve heard Jessica and Lacy at To Be Magnetic talk about how their company takes two weeks off in the summer, two weeks off for Christmas, and one week off for the spring and autumn equinoxes. So six in total, if I’ve understood correctly. This might be optimal for individuals who need more structure and routines to thrive — as many people do — which is difficult to maintain in a four-week summer holiday.
Then, of course, there’s the whole conversation about four vs five day work weeks. But let’s save it for another time.
Supply Proper Nourishment
If you’re not properly nourished, getting enough energy and nutrients into your diet, your performance will lack. This adds stress to your system. Wouldn’t it make sense then, that company leaders took interest in the nourishment of their employees? Not in a controlling way, of course, but in a softly supportive and encouraging one.
Maybe offer healthy breakfasts or lunches a few times a week, fill the pantry with healthy drinks and snacks, and offer alternatives to coffee (to prevent energy crashes and promote better sleep). If your goal is to excel, there needs to be the right kind of fuel in the tank, so to speak.
CONCLUTION
When your company is powered by rest — nothing can stop your success.
THANK YOU
Thanks for reading all the way through. I hope you enjoyed this post, and that you’ll also find time in your day to REST with a yoga nidrā recording. Explore NIDRISTA’s ever-expanding yoga nidrā collection here.
Please share any takeaways from this article below — I’d love to hear your thoughts.
COMING UP
Next Sunday, I’ll share the perfect yoga nidrā recording to help you rest and recharge in your workday. Subscribe to receive it first.
Disclaimer: Johanna Andersson, the author of this article, is an educated yoga teacher — specialised in yoga nidrā and breathing — and an energy healer. And while she’s a long-time wellness enthusiast, she’s not a healthcare expert or nutritionist. This guide is meant to be seen as inspiration and entertainment only.
LIVING REST is published every Sunday. Visit NIDRISTA.COM here and follow the brand on IG here. Click here to access the LIVING REST archive.
Paragraph 3 really hits home as a fellow freelancer. It’s an insidious culture we have absorbed! The unlearning and relearning…. Excited for your guidance!
Heja dig ❤️