Psychology Today | The 7 Kinds of Rest You Actually Need

Sleep is essential, but not always enough. A vacation may seem relaxing, but it's not always restful. In order to maintain a well-balanced life, it's important to also take the time for various types of rest.

This includes:

1. Physical rest to restore our energy and repair our bodies after physical exertion.
2. Emotional rest to process and release our emotions.
3. Sensory rest to reduce overstimulation and give our senses a break.
4. Social rest to recharge from social interactions and connect with ourselves.
5. Creative rest to explore new interests and hobbies that inspire us.
6. Spiritual rest to reflect and connect with our inner selves and beliefs.
7. Mental rest to declutter and refocus our minds.

Exhaustion is a serious concern for too many of us, and unfortunately, sleep alone doesn’t fix the issue. In fact, only focusing on sleep may increase burnout because other key areas of rest have not been attended to.

Not surprisingly, the first kind of rest humans need is physical rest. This involves taking a break from physical activities that tire us out. Some examples of this include sleep, relaxation, and napping. Interestingly, "active" physical rest can also fall into this category (even though it may seem like a contradiction). Active physical rest includes light, restorative activities such as yoga, stretching, or massages.

Are you always catching yourself thinking even when you're supposed to be resting? You might have a mental rest deficit. Relying on coffee temporarily helps, but in the future, it can add more to your overthinking.

To achieve mental rest, take regular breaks during the workday and journal before going to bed.

One helpful technique is thought diffusion, which involves observing thoughts without attaching emotions, similar to watching leaves float down a stream or clouds move across the sky.

We are constantly exposed to different kinds of sensory stimulation such as screens, conversations, lights, and more. This can lead to feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated. One way to recharge is by intentionally taking moments of sensory deprivation.

This could include avoiding screens for at least 45 minutes before bedtime.

Emotional Rest allows us the space to be authentic. If someone asks you how you're doing after recognizing you are visibly upset, and you respond with "fine," such a suppression of emotions places added internal pressure on you.

Instead, we can allow ourselves to be authentic by stating, "I'm actually really frustrated with __." This release and authenticity allows our emotional circuit to feel more rested.

Understanding whether you are an introvert, or an extrovert is important. Knowing if you recharge by being around people or alone, can help you understand when you need alone-time to recharge.

This conversation is crucial to have with your partner, as everyone has different social limits. One person may be ready to leave a party after just three hours, while their partner may still be energized and not ready to leave.

For those working on creative projects, creative rest is crucial. Do you often face writer's block, creative fatigue, or burnout from brainstorming? Here's how to recharge:

Inspiration meets relaxation:

• Surround yourself with nature and let yourself be.
• Take a break from a problem or project to recharge your brain without pressure.

Our body and mind long for spiritual rest, which involves connecting with something greater than ourselves. This can include prayer, meditation, or a sense of purpose. We can also seek community through groups or organizations that prioritize acceptance and intention.

Examples include:

• Church groups
• Volunteer programs
• Community outreach
• Nature retreats

Cellular/systemic rest is the rest of the whole body system from an internal level. What we put into our bodies matters. Processed foods, junk foods, or high-fat/high-sugar foods are extremely difficult for our bodies to digest. Much of the energy we produce goes into the digestion of these foods, which leaves us feeling fatigued, tired, or lethargic.

Our body needs rest on a cellular and systemic level, which we can achieve by consuming healthy, easy to digest foods. These foods also provide protection against oxidative stress. Additionally, it is crucial to limit our caffeine intake to give our adrenals a break.

Take care of yourself by making rest a priority. According to Dalton-Smith, starting with short periods of rest each day is key. Here's how to refuel and recharge your body and mind:

1. Find small pockets of rest throughout the day
2. Focus on different dimensions of rest (physical, emotional, etc.)
3. Make time for activities that bring you joy and relaxation