Ep 109: What Does Rest Really Mean? Lessons from the RestRx Retreat in Cape May, with Dr. Michelle Quirk

What does rest actually mean to you? Are the things you call “rest” leaving you feeling genuinely restored?

In this reflective episode of the Mindful Marathon Podcast, I'm taking you inside our recent RestRx Retreat in Cape May, where a group of women physicians gathered for a weekend of movement, yoga, writing, a sound bath, meaningful conversations, and something that can be surprisingly difficult to make room for: unstructured time.

The weather may have been rainy and windy, but the weekend gave us the opportunity to slow down, notice what we needed, and explore our individual relationships with rest.

Rather than simply sharing a recap, I'm inviting you to experience a little piece of the retreat yourself. Grab a journal or open the Notes app on your phone, and join me for a few guided reflection questions. There will be pauses throughout the episode so you can think, write, and reconnect with yourself.

In this episode, we explore:

Why our relationship with rest can be more complicated than it seems

What genuinely restores us and what we sometimes call rest that leaves us feeling just as depleted

Why rest isn't only about finding more time on the calendar

How the rhythms of giving, receiving, connection, and solitude affect our well-being

How to create a personal movement and rest prescription that fits your actual life

Why intentionally creating open space matters

How writing a letter to your future self can help you remember what you need