Rest has historically been defined as ‘stopping an activity
for a period of time to regain or restore your strength’, but for most people
these days, stopping just is not an option.
Exhaustion has become the norm for many people, who either
try for a better night’s sleep hoping to fix things, or add a visit to the
doctor to their to-do list.
American doctor Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith found herself in a
similar situation. She tried to work out ‘what next?’ to replenish her energy
and has become something of a rest expert. Dalton-Smith explains that sleep and
rest are not the same thing, and that there are actually seven different types
of rest we need to feel restored.
1. Physical
This may be the traditional rest of sleep or napping but can
also be active rest. Activities like stretching and yoga are considered active
forms of rest.
2. Mental
Signs you need more mental rest include drifting focus,
feeling irritable, and not being able to switch off your racing brain at night.
Building regular ‘brain breaks’ into your day might be the answer. Every one to
two hours, stop for five minutes of physical movement (such as stretching), a
mindfulness activity or a sensory activity such as having a drink of cold
water. This is a time to relieve stress, boredom or frustration that you may
not have been aware was building.
3. Sensory
We live in a very sensory-rich world and it is rare we have
a moment where there is not a demand being placed on our sensory system. Simple
things such as turning lights down, taking a moment to close your eyes, or
using ear buds to reduce the noise can all help you rest your senses.
4. Creative
If you find yourself feeling uninspired or bored, it is a
sure sign you need creative rest. Surround yourself with nature, look for the
beauty in your surroundings. Fuel your imagination, shift how you approach
creativity and you will be giving yourself rest in this domain.
5. Emotional
Feeling unappreciated, resentful or constantly
people-pleasing? It is likely you need emotional rest. Emotional rest is not
necessarily easy though. It requires you to be authentic, to share your real
thoughts and feelings, even if they are not always what others want to hear.
6. Social
Social rest is like emotional rest in that it requires
self-awareness, courage and boundaries. It involves prioritising relationships
with others that are positive rather than giving time to relationships that
exhaust you.
7. Spiritual
This relates to your sense of purpose, meaning and belonging
in life. To find more spiritual rest, you need to add rather than subtract.
Connecting with community, mediation, and prayer are all forms of spiritual
rest.
Aim to PACE
If you are after more ways to replenish. Beyond Blue has a
resource on their website that helps identify the things that improve your
wellbeing. They use the framework of PACE to suggest some ideas of where to
start.
Pause
Take time to reflect on your day, meditate, stretch, or take
a shower or bath. Say ‘no’ to something, and practise self-compassion.
Act
Drink some water, eat something healthy, go for a walk, do
yoga, have an impromptu home dance party!
Connect
Connect with nature, your pets, friends, a community group,
or practise your spirituality.
Enjoy
Do a puzzle, read a book, play a word game, learn a new
skill, or watch a favourite show.
Once you have identified what works for you, think about why
these things work as it might help you add some new tools to your kit. Then
make sure you set aside time regularly to boost your wellbeing.