I used to think that there was only one type of rest, i.e., physical rest. Just sleep well, and you will get rest, which will be enough for overall wellbeing, but it turns out that physical rest is just one part of the equation. For overall wellbeing, there are 7 types of rest, and each has its own purpose. The most important part is to identify when that specific type of test is needed and what to do so that you can live well.
Here are 7 types of rest you should be taking for overall wellbeing.
1. Physical rest: Do you feel tired all the time? Do basic activities feel like a mountain? Your body whispers until it screams at you. The sooner you hear when your body needs rest, the better it is for you. If you feel tired most of the time, then your body is telling you that it needs some rest, and this is mostly because you don’t give importance to sleep.
For physical rest, sleep at least 7 hours every night and watch the difference in your body
2. Mental rest: Have you ever struggled with focus and concentration? When you sit to do your work, even a small task takes hours, and you wonder where the time went. That’s because when lots of things are going on in your mind and when you hold so many things in your mind, you struggle even for small tasks. To give yourself a mental rest, do journaling. Take a paper and write down everything that is going on in your mind without judgement.
Another way is to sit and meditate and observe your thoughts. Let your thoughts exist without suppressing them, and once you let them exist without resisting, they will stop bothering you.
3. Emotional rest: Have you reacted to small things and then later wondered, ‘Why did I react like this?’ Do you feel overwhelmed even at the small inconveniences?
It’s a sign that you need emotional rest, and that’s because you might be holding on to many things, and if you feel like crying, then do cry because it is one of the ways to release emotions. Saying no to certain things that drain you emotionally, setting a strong boundary and not getting involved in drama are other ways to get emotional rest.
4. Creative rest: If your daily work requires creativity and sometimes you are not getting those creative juices flowing, then it’s a sign that you need creative rest. The paradox is that the more you try to be creative, the less creative you become. The best thing is to let go for some time. Either go for a walk or completely engage yourself in other fun activities like playing, drawing or cooking. This will give your brain some space to breathe, and after that, when you resume your work, you will get your creative juices flowing.
5. Social rest: When you are saying yes to all the events and all the get-togethers, then you are saying no to yourself. Being around people all the time without setting boundaries is draining and tiring. Giving yourself a break from socialising and being yourself is one of the best ways to get social rest. Spending time with yourself is not loneliness; it’s a must-do thing for recharging yourself so that you can socialise well later. Also, you don’t need hundreds of people around; you just need 2-3 people in your life with whom you can be yourself authentically without the fear of judgement. With whom you can trust and share what you are feeling without the feeling of abandonment and those who understand you, not criticise you.
6. Sensory rest: this is the rest most of the population needs but never gives to itself, and it is the most simple type of rest, yet it is the most difficult. You wake up and you pick your phone first. Before sleeping, you have your phone. Whenever you are bored during the day, you take your phone out and you start scrolling. As a result of this, your nervous system is already stimulated, and your brain gets foggy because it doesn’t get a space to think because you are always consuming information. The best way is to avoid using phones. hour after you wake up and one hour before sleeping. During the day, set a timer for using phones for a dedicated period of time and no more than that. Your future self will thank you. Additionally, walk barefoot in nature without any music or screens.
7. Spiritual rest: This is the most underrated type of rest. You need this type of rest when you are used to the routine, worldly desires, and material things. There is a quiet voice whispering inside you that it’s time to detach from all that you are doing and just connect with something bigger than you. It can be the universe or nature or God or whatever you call it, but that’s the source, and the best way to connect with that source is by sitting in silence and just focusing on breathing. Apart from this, doing something not for the money or fame, but for the cause bigger than yourself. This can be your purpose or your unique talent that can help others and eventually make this world a better place.
Final thoughts on rest
Resting is often considered some type of leisure, and some feel guilty because of taking rest. That’s because we have grown up thinking that constant hard work is important, and you are not used to taking rest, so now when you take rest, it feels guilty.
The pressure to be productive all the time is creating stress, and this makes resting hard because when you rest, there is no outcome. However, the fact is that resting is one of the best things you can do to be more productive.
Resting is like an investment in yourself. Natalie Dattilo-Ryan, PhD, an instructor at Harvard Medical School says, “I think about energy like a bank account. When you’re busy, you’re making withdrawals and not many deposits. When you rest, you’re building a diversified portfolio of investments into your account.”
Instead of always being involved in some kind of work, take time to pause and ask yourself:
- How am I feeling?
- Do I need any rest? If yes, then which type of rest?
Your future self will thank you for taking rest.