Most women are juggling what seem to be a million different tasks as they try to maintain balance by being phenomenal homemakers, perfect mothers, and career goddesses—all at the same time. Unfortunately, many unconsciously put the needs of other people before themselves along the line and then end up a total wreck.

For emphasis, rest is not laziness. In fact, the willingness to rest is key to good health for every woman, particularly as science has shown, repeatedly, that women need more rest—and sleep too—than men, and risk jeopardising their mental, physical and emotional health if they don’t get it. So, from every hour to every year, here’s how to achieve that.

By Josephine Agbonkhese

Every Hour

A break doesn’t have to be long. Two or three minutes of sustained mental quiet after an hour of work can do wonders. Wheel your chair away from the computer and just shut your eyes. You can hold some papers in your hands to make ‘busybody’ co-workers think you’re reading something important.

Every Day

You need to take yourself off-line and become engaged in something other than your normal activity. Block out 20 minutes for a “me-time”. Maybe give yourself a mini-spa treatment in the bathroom or a hand massage.

Every Week

Take one day a week to yourself; make it literally your own Sabbath. But you don’t have to be religious or spiritual on this self-chosen day. You can maybe go out with family or friends or simply lock yourself up in a room and enjoy a really, really deep sleep.

Every Month

Get a massage. There’s nothing more relaxing than an hour on the table in the hands of a professional massage therapist. Studies have shown repeatedly that a rubdown washes away worries while increasing serotonin and dopamine; hormones that make you feel happy and relaxed.

Every Year

For many women, getting away is hardly relaxing but that’s because they do it the wrong way. But according to Newton’s first law of motion, any object at rest should stay at rest. So, at least once each year, take a relaxing vacation where you’re not rushing to visit family or overstuffing your sightseeing schedule. Just indulge in ‘lazy things’ and stay at rest.