September is usually a really busy time, fresh starts all round. The air is cooler and we say goodbye to summer. The days get shorter. We buy new stationary, school uniforms are made ready and the kids go back to school.

For me this September started with stopping! I had thought that I was good at resting and having a healthy balance in my life between work and rest, but it turns out that’s not the case! It’s given me a chance to think about what the difference is between being tired and being weary.

I often hear people say they’re tired, we’re all busy, whether it’s work, school, church or hobbies, we fill our time easily. Tiredness is usually solved by an early night or taking a day at the weekend to recover. It might also be that our diet isn’t right or that we’re not exercising enough. Tiredness is a physical thing, our bodies need certain things to keep going. Good food (not empty calories), regular exercise and sleep!

Weariness on the other hand is a more mental experience. It’s where you’ve been pushing on with something to the detriment of your own physical and mental health. ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’, actually means ignore what you’re feeling and get on with it! While that seems noble and helpful, it eventually leads to burnout.

So how do you overcome weariness? I think this is something that’s different for everyone and a good starting point is to know whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert. As an introvert myself, I know that for me, the best way to restore my mind is to be alone and read, play piano or go for a walk. I have a friend who’s and extrovert, and for them, that would be awful, they need to be around people in order to feel restored.

A practice I’ve read about recently, that I think could be helpful for anyone, is the practice of finding ‘Silence and Solitude’. In ‘The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry‘ by John Mark Comer, he talks about how we live in a world that constantly demands our attention and so to actually stop and take time to be alone without distraction is actually good for our souls. We need to listen to ourselves and, as a Christian, I need to listen to God. I really recommend reading this book as I think we can all do with a dose of reminding ourselves that we were made for more than the rat race, that our identity doesn’t come from what we do or achieve but from who we are made to be.

While my September has been about stopping, it doesn’t mean I haven’t sat alone and stared at the walls! I’ve examined my heart, I’ve sought help where I need it and I’ve taken time to restore my soul. I’m learning that stopping or admitting I need help isn’t failing.

Rest came and found me! Do you need to stop running and let rest catch up with you? Check your heart for signs of weariness and take some time to be silent and alone. It might only be five minutes but it could change your life!