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 Reflection questions from this episode If you'd like to revisit the journaling exercise, start here: What does rest mean to me? What do I sometimes call rest that doesn't actually leave me feeling rested? If I gave myself permission to rest without needing to justify it, what might that look like? What do I want movement or rest to give me? What actually feels nourishing to me right now? When could I realistically make space for it? What would I want my future self to remember about what I need right now? You don't need to answer every question or figure everything out today. Start by noticing. Wherever you are today, I hope you can find even five minutes to notice what you need. Ready to make more space for yourself? If this episode leaves you wishing you had more than a few minutes with your notebook, I'd love to invite you to my RestRx Spring Reset, a one-day retreat created specifically for women physicians. Join me on Saturday, March 6, 2027, at Normandy Farm in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, for a day of movement, rest, reflection, and connection with women who understand the particular demands of this life and profession. You don't have to arrive feeling rested, be good at mindfulness, or know exactly what you need. That's what the day is for. Explore the retreat and reserve your spot here: https://mindful-marathon.com/restrxreset Early-bird pricing is available through October 22, 2026. Keep up with Coach Michelle's adventures over on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Mindful.Marathon *** The information contained in this podcast is intended to serve as educational information and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should consult your primary care physician before undertaking any fitness regimen or exercise, which can pose serious health risks if undertaken or performed improperly. All content, including text, graphics, images, and information, contained in the videos is for g