This week, at I Am Here, we’re asking:  What Does Real Rest Actually Look Like?
- Are there times when we think we are resting but are, actually, still mentally switched on?
- Why do so many of us mistake productivity or chores for recovery?
- Could something as simple as disconnecting from our phones or stepping outdoors help us truly recharge?
Last week at I Am Here, we were delighted to host a special I Am Here Connect series event for International Women’s Day, with wellbeing expert Dr Janine Van Someren.
The session explored the invisible load many people carry, particularly women, balancing work, family, and daily responsibilities.
The response to the session was fantastic. We received wonderful feedback from across the community, with many people reflecting on how powerful it was to recognise the difference between being busy and actually recovering.
What Are We Watching This Week?
This week we’re sharing a short clip from our I Am Here Connect series session with Dr Janine Van Someren called Tips to Boost your Recovery.Â
In this clip, Janine explains why leaving your phone behind can significantly improve recovery. Many people believe they are resting when they are actually still engaging their brains with digital stimulation, notifications, or endless scrolling.
She shares fascinating insights into how our nervous system needs genuine downtime to recover properly, and why activities that feel restful on the surface can sometimes still leave us mentally drained.
Janine also introduces simple mindful movement ideas that help people reconnect with their bodies and recognise the difference between genuine rest and simply adding more activity to an already busy day.
Watch the video (1-minute watch)
What Are We Reading This Week?
This week we’re reading Forest bathing: Reduce stress and burnout, improve sleep and boost well-being with the quiet magic of nature, by Suzanne Harrington at Irish Independent.
The article explores the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, often translated as forest bathing. Despite the name, it isn’t about exercise or hiking quickly through the woods. Instead, it encourages people to slow down and gently immerse themselves in nature using their senses.
Practitioners take time to notice the sounds, smells, textures, and rhythm of the natural environment around them. Research suggests this simple act of slowing down in nature can help lower stress levels, improve sleep, and restore mental clarity.
With the bright evenings outside, it might be the perfect moment to step outside, breathe deeply, and allow nature to do some of the restorative work for us.
Read the article (5-minute read)
Who Are We Quoting This Week?
“Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.”
– Ovid
This quotation is a reminder that rest is not wasted time. Just like a field’s pasture needs time to recover in order to grow again, our minds and bodies also need space to replenish.
At I Am Here, we believe looking after our mental health and wellbeing is not about doing more. Often, it’s about creating the conditions that allow us to recover, reconnect, and return with renewed energy.