Activ Life Postcard [wellness tip #8]

Dear Activ Life enthusiast

Are you daydreaming about sitting in this chair… daydreaming?

Your brain consumes about 20% of your body’s energy, even at rest. When you daydream or “do nothing,” your brain activates the default mode network — the system linked to creativity, problem-solving and memory.

That’s why even a 5–10 minute break at work can boost productivity, reduce mistakes and refresh focus.

Think of downtime like letting a computer cool before it overheats.

Humans aren’t the only ones who need rest. Across the animal kingdom, creatures have evolved surprising tricks to balance activity and recovery.

• Dolphins: They practice unihemispheric slow-wave sleep — half their brain sleeps while the other half keeps them swimming, breathing, and scanning for predators. Even their eyes take turns staying open!

• Birds on migration: Some species also half-sleep mid-flight, ensuring they stay on course.

• Swifts: Can fly for months without landing, sneaking in “microsleeps” while in the air.

• Chinstrap penguins: Take thousands of 4-second “sleep snacks” daily, adding up to full rest.

• Bears: Hibernate up to 100 days, recycling their own waste while preserving muscle and organs.

• Elephants: Sleep only ~2 hours a day, often standing up.

• Giraffes: Get by on just 30 minutes of sleep in the wild.

• Plants: Even they rest — closing leaves or flowers at night in a cycle called nyctinasty.

Nature makes it clear: rest is survival.

Unlike dolphins or giraffes, humans can’t half-sleep — but we rely on recovery just as much. Here’s what rest does for us:

• Restores energy & fuel: Replenishes glycogen in muscles and neurotransmitters in the brain.

• Repairs & rebuilds: Muscles, tissues, and the immune system recover during downtime.

• Boosts performance: Elite athletes schedule as much rest as workouts — because growth happens during recovery.

• Regulates hormones: Sleep balances cortisol (stress), insulin (blood sugar) and growth hormone.

• Sharpens the mind: Rest consolidates memories, clears brain waste and improves decision-making.

Without it, the risks grow: fatigue, injury, weight gain, burnout and reduced creativity.

You don’t need to hibernate like a bear — small, intentional breaks work wonders. Try:

• Short power naps (20–30 minutes) → NASA-tested for boosting alertness

• Active recovery (gentle yoga, walking, stretching) → improves circulation and healing

• Mindful downtime (breathing, meditation, daydreaming) → resets focus and lowers stress

The science is clear: rest isn’t laziness — it’s performance fuel. Just as animals have evolved smart rest strategies, humans need structured downtime to stay creative, focused and healthy.

Sleep training is one of the topics included in our comprehensive Work Wellness program; carefully curated to give you 20-minutes online daily with an Activ Life wellness expert to learn tips to eat well, breathe better, sleep soundly and move more. 

Companies can sign up on behalf of all their employees with the confidence that investing in wellness sees healthier, and more productive and engaged teams.

To learn more, check out our Program Overview or email louise@theactivlife.com

Your favourite travelling yogis

Louise and Sarah