Rest is crucial for maintaining overall well-being and maximising productivity. It allows our bodies and minds to recover, rejuvenate, and recharge.
While many people associate rest solely with sleep, there are actually several different types of rest that contribute to our overall health. Let’s explore the seven types of rest, how to practice them, and why they are important.
- Physical Rest
Allowing the body to rest and repair. This could be passive or active sleep is passive rest. Gentle movement, a soak in the bath and massages count as active physical rest. - Mental Rest
Being able to switch off mentally-not working, not scrolling social media, not watching TV, but taking short breaks every few hours, taking a walk in nature no headphones, or playing with your pets. Journalling or just writing the thoughts down can help get them out of your brain. Use a journal or a note on your phone. - Sensory Rest
Neurodivergent or chronically ill people tend to need a lot of this rest. Closing your eyes somewhere quiet gives you a rest from screens, lights, sounds, conversations to keep up with, heavy smells, these all ask our brains to do work which requires energy! - Creative Rest
Creating spaces that nurture and inspire you, may be printing out photos of your favourite places and putting them on your desk, creating a cosy space outdoors to relax and watch the clouds in. This is non productive rest, think of it as nesting or nurturing something important to you. - Emotional Rest
Giving yourself space to openly and safely feel your emotions. Not having to be there for anybody else, just yourself. The only person to please is yourself, by being your authentic self and honestly check in with where you are emotionally and what you’re feeling good or bad. When we don’t emotionally rest enough we will be prone to outbursts or these emotions getting trapped and causing chronic conditions. - Social Rest
Knowing the difference between being energised and drained by social situations. Maybe certain people drain you, maybe you just have a limit on how much you can socialise. Either way are you aware of it and listen to when enough is enough? Who is cheering you on and bringing joy to your life? Can you say no to invites? - Spiritual Rest
Do you believe in something bigger than yourself? Maybe consciousness, the universe, fate, the divine, Lunar cycles, whatever you want to call it. How do you tap into that? Meditation, breathwork, gentle movement, prayer, card reading, cacao, celebrating the moon cycles, whatever does it for you that brings a sense of acceptance to your deeper being
Take time to rest, rejuvenate, and recharge the way your mind, body, and soul are asking you too.
