I am tired. The world is tired. It really doesn’t matter your beliefs, race, or other affiliations I am sure you are exhausted as well. The news cycle is awful, shootings, war, pandemic, inflation it is really a hot mess out here.
I keep going to sleep earlier and still waking ups just flat-out fatigued and have struggled to figure out why. Well, it hit me, maybe I am not giving myself the type of rest I need. Rest is more than sleep. According to Dr. Saundra Dalton Smith, there are seven dimensions to consider while trying to attain rest. I think most of us often focus too much on one dimension and hope to subconsciously distribute that state of rest in every other part.
To achieve the true state of rest and rejuvenation, you need to observe these seven types of rest. All of the dimensions mentioned here are interconnected, and the absence of rest in one area easily affects the others. Paying attention to and then actually observing the various types of rest will help prevent the redundant patterns of restlessness and produce better results in the long run. You are most productive when you are rested. Therefore, you should channel all the necessary energy into attaining holistic rest. Yes, you may need to focus more on attaining all seven types of rest, but you will need less energy to be effective in whatever areas you need to tackle in your life. So what are the seven different types of rest?
Physical rest
There are two types of physical rest: passive and active physical rest. Passive physical rest involves actual sleep. Active physical rest is a more restorative rest. Doing something that helps your body’s circulation and flexibility like yoga or stretching or a slower-paced walk. Physical rest allows your body to build up new energy for pending tasks.
Mental rest
The truth is your brain is constantly thinking about something. However, too much -uncontrolled thinking can leave you exhausted despite physical rest. Ever wonder why no matter how much sleep you get you never wake up refreshed? It could be you need more mental rest. Think about it like a computer… you need to close some of the active tabs on the screen and stop ruminating on things so much (within reason- stay alert at work guys!). Develop a culture of writing down those random thoughts like things you need to get done, so you don’t have pressure to keep remembering them. It will allow your mind to shut off for rest.
Sensory rest
Anything that triggers your five senses to send signals to the brain can easily overwhelm you, especially when all senses have to work simultaneously. So to get sensory rest go to a quiet place where you are not being stimulated in any way. Another option is to set a timer for things that stimulate you this your phone. Too much time being engaged in scrolling, looking etc. can be overstimulating.
Creative rest
You can easily discern the absence of creative rest when your innovative ability feels suppressed. Excuse yourself from the matter needing your creativity because it is the source of your stress. Indulge in random activities or anything that relaxes your mind. An idea should pop up while you are doing unrelated activities from what you are trying to get creative in doing.
Emotional rest
People pleasers suffer the greatest emotional torture. You are constantly putting other people’s emotions first and draining yours. You also feel restless at the thought of disappointing others. This may mean you need to set some boundaries with yourself. Teach yourself to say no or to turn down unnecessary requests so you are able to attain emotional rest. Remember, you can only give what you have.
Social rest
Each person has different types of social circles. There are the ones you easily connect with and others you feel you work too hard to entertain. Reduce the amount of time you are spending with the latter. You will attain social rest when you spend more time with your most trusted company of people or even by yourself. I tell people after work that sometimes I am peopled out a social battery is dead. This means saying no to the social outing and just being with myself or my family.
Spiritual rest
There are three dimensions to every human being, and your spirit needs constant nourishing. Most people think of religion here but it is more dependent on your own beliefs. So spiritual rest can look like prayer, meditation, or some other act that connects you to your Higher power. If you do not engage in spiritual beliefs or practices another way to get this type of rest is to have a sense of belonging with others where they feel accepted. It is all about the inter-connectedness of a relationship with others or your Higher Power.
Making sure you are nurturing yourself and ensuring you get all types of rest will help you feel more refreshed and able to tackle the tasks of your day. What type of rest do you need more of? What type of rest are you really good at getting for yourself?