209 - Beyond Lying Down: What Rest Really Means in Recovery

11 snips

Mar 25, 2026

A deep look at why true rest often feels out of reach for people recovering from long-term illness. The episode outlines seven kinds of rest and reframes fatigue as a protective signal. Practical downshifting tools are given, from soft exhales and micro rests to safety cues and co-regulation. It closes with a short grounding practice and gentle affirmations to help relearn restorative rest.

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INSIGHT

Rest Requires Safety Not Stillness

Rest requires safety, not just stillness, because a hypervigilant nervous system prevents restorative rest.
Jackie explains the body is in protection mode (fight/flight/freeze) so fatigue can be 'tired but wired' and needs safety cues to downshift.

ANECDOTE

Recovery Story That Reframed Rest As Saving

Jackie recounts a recovery guest who reframed rest as saving money, which helped overcome guilt about resting.
The guest compared saving small energy amounts daily to building healing over time, making rest purposeful.

ADVICE

Bank Energy For Healing

Bank energy for healing by intentionally saving some daily energy rather than spending it all, treating rest like a savings account.
Jackie shares a recovery story analogy: saving small amounts of energy adds up to support long-term healing.

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In this solo episode, Jackie Baxter unpacks what rest really is during long covid and MECFS recovery—and why simply lying down often doesn’t feel restorative. She reframes the struggle to rest as your body’s way of protecting you, not failing you, and introduces the idea of “banking energy for healing”.

Jackie explores the different types of rest we need—physical, mental, sensory, emotional, social, creative, and nervous system rest—and how safety cues and nervous system regulation make deeper rest possible. She shares practical tools like soft exhales, visual anchors, contact points, sound cues, micro rests, pre-emptive rest, and co-regulation with supportive people or pets.

The episode closes with a gentle grounding and rest practice and affirmations to help you feel just a little softer, safer, and more present—one small step at a time.

LINKS:

- Yoga Nidra (voice only): https://insig.ht/p11in6GLO1b
- Yoga Nidra (with music): https://insig.ht/ryTWpwOLO1b
- Yoga Nidra (nature sounds): https://insig.ht/qGIWLqKLO1b

- Opal app for screen time: https://www.opal.so/

- Work with me page: https://www.longcovidpodcast.com/workwithme

- The 2 practises in this episode can be found with background music on Insight Timer:
- 2 Minute Safety Cue (with music): https://insig.ht/DO2f3U7LO1b
- Rest without Guilt - A Compassionate Pause (with music): https://insig.ht/LkTy9ifMO1b

Message the podcast! - questions will be answered on my youtube channel :)

For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com

(music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life)

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**Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**