Peace to you!

Each week, the Monk Mindset newsletter comes with:

Monk Mindset for Living Well

Monk Mindset 4
Refresh without Indulging: Personal Wellness

Reflection on the Monk Mindset and Quote

When I was in the monastery, in the early afternoon, we had personal time during which we could rest, exercise, or perform a hobby. Many of the brothers took a nap during this time. Yes, most monks and nuns take naps daily.

Modern wellness practices are rediscovering the importance of harmonized rest that monks and nuns have known for centuries. Regular, quality rest can boost mood, sharpen focus, and help to manage stress. But the deeper reason for rest goes beyond personal wellness. When we are adequately rested, we have greater capacity for patience, attentiveness, and compassion. 

1500 years ago, St. Benedict of Norcia, the father of Western monasticism, recognized the importance of rest in his famous Rule, cited in the quotation above. St. Benedict instructed monks to take a midday break, not as an act of laziness, but as a practical way to sustain their rigorous life of prayer, work, and community. This “monastic siesta” was a time for silence and renewal, ensuring that monks could return to their duties with energy and focus.

If rest becomes only about feeling good or self-preservation it misses the point. Proper rest is about enabling us to refresh so we can better love and serve others. 

here are some practical suggestions for improving quality of sleep:

– no caffeine after 2 pm
– no fast or aggressive music during the day
– avoid alcohol in the evening 
– take a quick nap during the dip in your circadian rhythm in the early afternoon 
– get early sunlight to align your circadian rhythm
– get vigorous exercise and fresh air to notify your body to recover in the evening
– limit your protein and sugar intake in the evening to reduce stimulation

Put It Into Practice This Week

If you, like most people today, struggle to get the rest or sleep you need to feel recharged, try for one night this week to get to bed earlier or take a quick nap. 

Notice how you feel afterward and use that as motivation to try to build better habits around rest.

Wishing you abundant peace this week,

John