Did you know there are actually 7 types of rest? Saundra Dalton Smith, author of the incredible book ‘sacred rest. ‘, used her own experience with burnout to guide her work.
Her Ted talk she explains how sleep and rest are not the same thing and why we need to dive into the seven types of rest and learn where we are needing restoration.
Physical:
Physical rest is probably the type of rest that most people think of when feeling exhausted. Sleep is a big one, it falls under passive physical rest category (Check out my blog on why sleep is important). Ariana Huffington (is a Greek American author and commentator, best known for creating The Huffington Post) learnt the value of sleep the hard way. She is now very passionate about sharing the ways our lives can be improved by having 7-9 hours of good sleep.
Active rest however can be described as things like massage, stretching and yoga. It’s all about finding ways to move your body in a way that feels good to you. Yoga specifically incorporates breathing techniques, spiritual contemplation and physical postures which help with flexibility and improving our respiratory system.
Tip: create a dark, cool quiet environment for sleeping.
Mental:
Mental rest is all about giving your mind a break and allowing yourself to disconnect.
A big part of mental rest includes quieting the mind. This can be done with meditation and mindfulness, helping us acknowledge what we are feeling without judgement. We can also dive into our senses by focusing on the here and now.
Tip: Unplug from Screens at the end of the day and put them out of reach.
Emotional:
I think that the key to emotional rest comes with learning emotional regulation. This may vary from person to person and even day to day. By understanding where we struggle or excel can help us understand what we need to regulate ourselves. We can then create a toolbox of ideas that work for the individual. One foundational way to create emotional rest is by creating boundaries. “Authenticity is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we actually are. Choosing authenticity means cultivating the courage to be imperfect, to set boundaries, and to be vulnerable.”
― Brené Brown,
Tip: try using a journal
Social:
Social rest is not as simple as establishing if you are an introvert or extravert. It’s about what you need in the moment. Real connection with people that build you up. Focusing on the quality vs quantity of those connections. Solitude can be so beneficial too. It can give us time to reflect.
Tip: call or visit someone you builds you up.
Sensory:
We are all very different humans with our own personalised, sensory needs. Even our own needs may change depending on our moods, stress levels and lifestyle. What can we do for each specific ‘kindergarten sense’?
- Sight : dim lighting try natural or fairy lights
- Hearing: relaxing music try sounds you enjoy eg rain . Or set up a playlist that you LOVE.
- Smell: Calming scents like chamomile or a smell you really like try a picking out a candle .
- Touch : deep pressure , ( Proprioception ) try sensory toys or a weighted blanket .
- Taste: deep pressure foods like popcorn, chewing gum.
Tip: drink some ice-cold water.
Creative:
In order to be creative, we need to let our minds be free of tasks / to do lists. Instead, we can emerse ourselves in the things we love. This takes, getting to know yourself a little better. Do you love art, music, poetry, nature? What did you enjoy when you were younger, what inspires you? All these questions will help you understand what creative rest is right for you.
Tip: try something new, check out a YouTube video, make a new meal, try out a new class.
Spiritual:
Spiritual rest may be finding meaning and connection, it may offer a way to calm your body and mind. That may look very different to each individual. It might be through faith and prayer or meditation. according to Healthline meditation may:
- Reduce stress,
- Help control anxiety,
- Supports emotional health,
- Enhance self-awareness,
- Lengthen attention span,
- Improve sleep; and so much more.
Another way of connecting with spiritual rest may be through Community and acts of service and focusing on the values that are important to you.
Tip: help someone you know through a special skill.
If rest is so important, is the Hustle error wrong?
Samantha Gambino, (PsyD) says that “hustle culture pushes productivity to the point where we don’t even listen to our bodies. Byu Business School defines hustle culture as ”—a prevalent societal attitude that promotes working long hours at the expense of meeting personal needs.
No wonder the burnout levels in corporate are so high!
Need help creating your own Burnout Recovery Plan? Check out my podcast where we dive deep into Burnout Recovery for exhausted and overwhelmed moms
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M x