7 Types of Rest
As a therapist, many of the clients I work with report feeling perpetually tired and burnt out, despite getting what they believe is enough sleep. When most people think of rest, they think of physical rest – taking a nap or having a good night’s sleep. However, rest can be more multi-faceted than that, and sleep is just one aspect. In this article I share an overview of 7 different types of rest, and how to incorporate them into your daily life to help you start feeling more rejuvenated.
1. Physical Rest
Physical rest can be passive or active. Passive physical rest includes sleep and naps, while active physical rest involves activities that improve flexibility and circulation, such as yoga, stretching, gentle movement, or going for a leisurely walk. It's about giving your body a break from intense physical exertion and allowing it to heal and rejuvenate.
How to try it out: Regularly incorporate activities into your day or week that help relieve physical tension and promote relaxation such as deep breathing, walking, doing yoga, gentle movement or stretching, or receiving massage.
2. Mental Rest
Mental rest involves giving your brain a break from constant stimulation. If you find it hard to turn off your brain at night or feel mentally exhausted, you might need more mental rest. This can be achieved by taking short breaks throughout your workday, practicing mindfulness, or engaging in activities that don’t require intense concentration.
How to try it out: Schedule short mental breaks every couple of hours during your workday. Put away your phone or computer for a set amount of time and let yourself check out mentally and relax.
3. Sensory Rest
We live in a world bombarded with sensory inputs — bright lights, screens, background noise, and more. Sensory rest involves reducing this overload. This can mean closing your eyes for a few moments in a quiet space, using noise-cancelling headphones or an eye mask to block out noise or light, turning off your electronic devices, or enjoying nature.
How to try it out: Create a daily routine that includes a period of minimal sensory input. This could be a quiet walk in nature, a tech-free hour before bed, or simply sitting in silence or darkness for a few moments.
4. Creative Rest
Creative rest is particularly important for those who solve problems or brainstorm regularly. It involves taking a break from the pressure to create and allowing yourself to appreciate the beauty around you. Engaging with nature, enjoying art, or experiencing something inspiring can provide this type of rest.
How to try it out: Incorporate activities that inspire you, such as visiting a museum, listening to music, engaging with the arts, or spending time in nature. These can spark creativity and provide much-needed rest for your mind.
5. Emotional Rest
Emotional rest means having the time and space to freely express your feelings. It can also mean reducing people-pleasing behaviours and cutting back on the emotional labour you provide to others. Without emotional rest, you might feel overwhelmed or emotionally drained.
How to try it out: Connect with people that allow you to authentically express your feelings and help you feel understood. Regularly practice emotional check-ins with yourself and set boundaries around the emotional support you offer to others so that you have more space to receive support from others and tend to your own emotional needs. This might mean engaging in things like journalling, self-reflection, or therapy — or, it might mean taking a break from deep emotional processing and personal development for a bit.
6. Social Rest
Social rest involves taking a break from social interactions and settings that drain you and spending more time with people who uplift and energize you. It’s about recognizing the difference between relationships that revive you and those that exhaust you.
How to try it out: Evaluate your social interactions and prioritize spending time with individuals who provide support and positivity. It’s okay to set boundaries with those who drain your energy.
7. Spiritual Rest
Spiritual rest is about feeling connected to something larger than yourself, which can provide a sense of purpose and belonging. This can be achieved through meditation, connecting with nature, religious practices, or being part of a community that shares your values and beliefs.
How to try it out: Explore activities that enhance your sense of connection and purpose. This could involve regular participation in a faith community, prayer, meditation, community service or volunteer work, or any practice that aligns with your spiritual beliefs.
Bringing It All Together
After reading through these seven types of rest, you might have a better sense of how to take a more comprehensive and holistic approach to rest and rejuvenation.
Take a look at which types of rest you feel like you are lacking in. Is there anything you’d like to try out this week to help give you more time to recover and feel more balanced?
