There’s no gold medal in the stress Olympics – here’s how to start resting

‘We all involuntarily participate in the stress Olympics, and are aware that the busiest person wins gold.’ Illustration: Carmen Casado/The Guardian

Every new year – after the holiday glut of travel, parties, shopping and baked goods – there can be pressure to do and be more: more active, more productive, more creative, more thrifty. Maybe this will be the year I finally start meal planning or doing morning pages. New year, new me!

But what if the thing we needed more of was to do less? What if this was the year we finally learned to rest?