Did you know that there is a difference between rest and sleep? Many people think that because you have a good night’s sleep it means that you have rested. Yet even though we sleep well we may still feel burnt out, tired or have a lack of energy. That is because we are not nurturing ourselves and paying attention to other areas of our life that need restoration.

Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith posits that there are actually 7 different types of rest. These include other areas of our life that we may put on the back burner. They include:

Physical rest

Physical rest can be active or passive. Passive physical rest is sleeping, which is what we all think of first. Active rest includes doing things such as yoga and massage therapy. Yoga is wonderful for that mind-body connection. Most people feel really good after doing yoga. Getting a massage helps improve circulation. Some people do it for relaxation; others do it for deep stretching of muscles. Any type of stretching would be included in active physical rest.

Mental

This is about shutting down your brain. Dalton-Smith talks about the co-worker who starts his day with a huge cup of coffee, has trouble concentrating and is irritable. This person has trouble shutting off his brain at night, and wakes up first thing in the morning with his thoughts running again. He does not feel rested when he wakes up.

She suggests taking breaks throughout the workday. This can help you to unwind a little bit and recharge your batteries.

Something else that may be helpful is to have a notepad by your bedside. This way you won’t have to worry about remembering anything that may pop into your head at nighttime.

Sensory

We are all on sensory overload with our reliance on computers and phones. On our drives home we are bombarded with signs and billboards. If you work in an office there is also bright lights and multiple conversations occurring.

In order to improve this you may want to just close your eyes a few minutes during the day. If you have your own office you can turn off the lights and give yourself a break. You may also want to consider disengaging from social media or your phone for some time each evening.

Creative rest

This is for the person who needs to be creative at work such as being a problem solver, or someone who has to brainstorm on a regular basis. Creative rest is about recreating that sense of awe. For many people this occurs in nature. Think about something beautiful in nature. Is it the ocean, lake, forest, or desert? Perhaps it’s the foliage or your beautiful backyard garden.

It could also be an appreciation of the arts. Do you like going to the museum? Perhaps you have some beautiful paintings, photos or other form of art in your home. Take time to appreciate these.

Emotional rest

Are you the person who always says yes? That people pleaser who fears that people won’t like you if you say no? Over time this only leads to resentment. You will feel like people do not appreciate you. They are used to you doing everything they ask.

Emotional rest means that you learn to say no. Anyone who is worth keeping in your life will love you just the same and honor your boundaries. If someone doesn’t respect your boundaries, you do not need them in your life. Boundaries are not to make other people happy they are to keep you safe. Your self-esteem will improve if you set them.

Emotional rest also means that you are authentic. If you are not OK, you are honest and let people know that.

Social rest

It is also important that you spend time with people who build you up and make you feel good about yourself. These are the positive people in your life. You feel uplifted spending time with them.

Do not spend your time with people who are toxic and tear you down. They do not need to be in your life. If this person is a family member, it’s important that you limit your time spent with them.

Spiritual rest

According to Dalton-Smith, spiritual rest is the “ability to connect beyond the physical and mental and feel a deep sense of belonging, love, acceptance and purpose.” There are several ways to achieve this and it is different for everyone. Perhaps it is through community involvement, religion, prayer, or some form of meditation process.

So as you can see, there are many forms of rest. Engaging in these forms of rest will help you feel more balance and energy in your life. If you struggle with rest, feel unable to connect, or feel disconnected, therapy can also help. Please give me a call at 713-304-6554.

Take care,

Debbie