How to Find Rest That Restores, Not Just Distracts 

Parenting Perspective 

It is a human trait to require rest and yet default to distraction, especially when exhaustion becomes common in everyday life. Scrolling may feel soothing, but it rarely replenishes the heart or quiets the mind. What you need is restorative rest; a pause that refuels, not another way to fade out or distract oneself. 

Redefine Rest 

Start by redefining rest in small, intentional acts. Set a realistic window, perhaps five to ten minutes, when you sit down, close your eyes, and simply breathe. This time is not earned; it is owed to your humanity. Let the rhythm of your breath become a source of guidance and peace for you. You might say softly to yourself, ‘In these moments, I am simply present with ease.’ 

A Subtle Shift 

If it feels difficult to find stillness, try a subtle shift. Place your hand on your chest or heart and feel the rhythm beneath. Let that physical presence hold you before you slip into the feed or noise. Over time, you can expand these micro-pauses, building them into predictable transitions after school drop-off, before the dishes, or just before bedtime. 

When your child sees that you choose attentiveness over autopilot, you teach them that presence is sacred. They do not need to absorb perfection; instead, they need to see you choosing yourself gently. Rest then becomes not an indulgence, but a realignment. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam does not equate rest with negligence; it honours it as part of the spiritual rhythm. His mercy manifests in pauses, in reflection, and in renewable presence. Islam prioritises self-care and wellness as essentials of a human body and for the life of an individual. 

A Reminder That Rest Makes Worship Sustainable 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Muzzammil (73), verses 1–2: 

‘O my beloved (Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) who wraps himself (in the cloak of piety), stand in the night (worship) except for a short (period of time).’ 

These Verses encourage waking in worship while acknowledging human need: ‘except for a little.’ Rest is not a failure to pray; it is the mercy that makes prayer sustainable and sincere. 

The Prophetic Model: Your Body Has a Right Over You 

It is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Your body has a right over you. ‘

[Sahih al-Bukhari, 67:133] 

This Hadith grounds rest in obligation, not indulgence. Rest is a trust from Allah; a sacred duty to preserve the vessel entrusted to you. The body entrusted to you is not your own; it belongs to Allah Almighty and must be cared for to function well. For this, rest is required so it becomes easier to perform well in all spheres of life. 

If rest is nourishment for the body, then presence is nourishment for the heart. When you resist numbing habits and choose restorative stillness, you model to your child that spiritual integrity is not built on distraction, but on purposeful care. That care is the quiet strength that sustains both parenting and faith.