In usual Monday fashion, I was telling my friend at work that I was tired, despite going to bed early. That was when she asked if I’d heard of the 7 types of rest. And so began my research. I listened to Saundra Dalton-Smith’s Ted Talk on why we’re often tired when we’ve slept more. As it turns out, sleep and rest are not the same. Rest should be restorative. If we’re taking into account the 7 types of rest – physical, mental, sensory, creative, emotional, social, and spiritual, then I’m exhausted as hell. My mind is a blur with constant thoughts, I often put my creative outlet onto the backburner, and my senses are almost always stimulated by technology. So, how can we actually rest and recover?
Physical
There are two types of physical rest that we need – passive and active. While passive rest counts as sleeping or taking a nap, active rest is any gentle form of exercise. This could be yoga or stretching – something that improves circulation, flexibility, and mobility. I would also argue that strength training is a type of physical rest because of the way it improves my sleep and energy levels.
Mental
Mental rest is my biggest downfall. At the start of the year, I set a resolution to meditate for 10 minutes a day. I don’t think it would come as a surprise if I told you how that ended up going. (It’s December and I’ve done a total of 27 meditation sessions). Mental exhaustion is real. Meditating, journaling before bed, or taking a break from something to focus on deep breathing are all so helpful. Let’s just hope I can take my own advice sometime soon.
Sensory
Sensory rest is taking time away from bright lights, computer and phone screens, and loud and overwhelming background noise. Something I want to get better at is putting my phone and laptop away 30 minutes before bed and after I wake up in the morning. It’s easy to get into the habit of being consumed by technology and not pay attention to the beauty that is so often surrounding us. Take a few minutes to walk on the grass barefoot and feel the sun on your face tomorrow.
Creative
I am no stranger to writer’s block. Sometimes you just feel unmotivated and uninspired. Creative rest is almost like a reset button – it restarts the flow. This could be something as simple as pausing and noticing things you haven’t before, like sunflowers in your neighbour’s garden or the smell of wet concrete after it rains. It could also be painting, creating Minecraft worlds, or colouring in a book you got from Amazon called Fuzzy Hygge (not based on a real life example…).
Emotional
Now, this type of rest might not even be one that we’re aware of. Emotional rest is needed for all of us, but in particular for those we call people pleasers. This kind of behaviour often leads to us feeling emotionally drained. To rest, we must focus on being authentic to ourselves, feeling all the feelings, expressing them in a healthy way, and taking the time and space that’s required to refill our cups. This is your reminder that it’s okay to say no.
Social
As an introvert, I was hoping social rest was going to provide me with an excuse to escape others (to my friends, family, housemates – I’m sorry, I still love you). But it’s actually less about solitude and more about surrounding ourselves with positive and supportive people. Like our emotional capabilities, our social batteries can run flat too around the wrong crowd. Friendships should feel authentic and easy, and you should leave your interactions feeling fulfilled and happy.
Spiritual
I often treat spiritual rest as a bonus. But the truth is, it’s one of the more important ones. Think back to a time when you helped someone else (out of generosity and not obligation), or contributed to something bigger than yourself. When you feel like you’re part of a community, you feel a great sense of belonging and purpose. That’s what we’re looking for with spiritual rest.
While there are 7 types of rest that you should now consider, don’t let this list make you more overwhelmed than what you already are. Start with improving one aspect at a time. Good luck!
Yours,
Kait x
Cover photo by Ron Lach