You don’t have to stop everything to rest.
For many paramedics, full stillness can feel uncomfortable, even disorienting. But that doesn’t mean you can’t reset.
There’s another way to recharge: it’s called active rest.
Active rest is about shifting gears, not shutting down. It’s about giving your brain and body a break from routine without losing momentum or purpose.
Below are five ways to rest that allow you to keep moving ... but in ways that restore energy, creativity, and clarity.
1. 🎨 Try a Creative Outlet
Whether it’s drawing, painting, writing, or music, creative play gives your brain freedom it doesn’t usually get on the job.
You don’t need to be “good”, you just need to engage. Creativity balances the structure and pressure of clinical work with messiness, exploration, and flow.
Try this:
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Pick up a sketchbook or try a digital art app
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Start a daily 3-line journal (no pressure, just patterns of thought)
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Make a playlist of music that shifts your mood
2. 🎓 Join a Short Course (Unrelated to Paramedicine)
Learning outside of your field reminds you that you’re a dynamic person, not just a responder. It activates curiosity and can rebuild confidence in times of fatigue or uncertainty.
Ideas:
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Language learning
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Intro to psychology, cooking, photography, coding, finance
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Online masterclasses or in-person workshops
The goal isn’t productivity, it’s expansion.
3. 🌿 Go for a Walk Without a Goal
No podcasts. No step targets. No calls. Just movement.
This kind of walk helps discharge adrenaline and cortisol while encouraging presence and mental clarity.
Rest tip:
Let your mind wander. Pay attention to your surroundings. Walking without performance pressure helps restore attention and calm your nervous system.
4. 🤝 Volunteer Somewhere Different
Volunteering in a non-clinical setting can shift your sense of purpose and remind you that your value extends far beyond the stretcher.
Opportunities:
It’s a chance to connect with people who see you as a person, not just a professional.
5. 🍲 Cook Something Slow and Unfamiliar
Let rest live in the ritual. Cooking can be grounding, sensory, and meditative, all while teaching patience and slowing you down.
Try this:
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Choose a recipe that takes time
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Cook without distraction, ie. no TV or phone
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Focus on the process, not the outcome
You’re not fuelling your body ... you’re fuelling your pace.
🧭 Final Thought: Rest Doesn’t Need to Look Like Rest to Work
You don’t need to stop everything to take care of yourself.
Sometimes the most powerful rest is simply choosing to do something different, just for you.
Pick one of these this week. Try it. Reflect on how it makes you feel.
It might just be the break your body and mind have been waiting for.
