All living creatures rest

The other day, I was listening to the podcast But Why with my kiddos. It was about ants. At one point, the ant scientist answered a question about whether ants sleep by noting that all animals sleep. For some reason, I did not know that already. All animals rest. Every one of them. I am an animal. Why in the world would I feel that I should be able to constantly be active? Why do I feel guilty when I want to rest? Rest is normal. Rest is a corollary of being a creature. ⁣

This is not the first time I’ve had a realization like this about rest, and my guess is it won’t be the last. But I did need to remember it this week. Maybe you do too.

All living creatures have periods of activity and periods of rest

Published by Emily P.G. Erickson

Emily P.G. Erickson is a freelance writer specializing in mental health and parenting. She has written for popular digital publications, including Everyday Health, Health, The New York Times, Parents, Romper, WIRED, and more. Emily is a professional member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) and the Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ). Previously, Emily researched PTSD for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and earned a master's in psychology. You can find the latest from Emily at www.emilypgerickson.com.

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