7 Types of Rest (And Why You Need Them All!)

Wait… So, you’re telling me there’s more to rest than getting a bit of shut-eye?

Shocking, we know. But yes! That is exactly what we’re saying. We’re even going to let you in on a little secret… 

Simply getting enough sleep is not going to cure your chronic exhaustion. 

Yep! There you have it. And it’s hard to believe, huh? We can’t speak for everyone, but we’ve always been told that a full REM cycle is all we need for a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and under-eye-circle-free morning. 

Of course, that was until we stumbled across a TED Talk by Saundra Dalton-Smith that finally shed some light on why we’re all so sleepy. In it, she explains that there are seven different types of rest and that getting enough sleep each night is just not going to cut it. 

Now, let’s all take a moment to think about that. How many nights have you crawled into bed utterly exhausted, slept a full eight or nine hours, and woken up the next morning still feeling sluggish and fatigued? (Don’t worry, we’ve all been there.) Sure, you slept through a full REM cycle, however, there are other kinds of rest that your body might still be craving. 

In the wise words of Dalton-Smith, “we go through life thinking we’ve rested because we have gotten enough sleep—but in reality, we are missing out on the other types of rest we desperately need.” 

Sounds intriguing, right? Well in today’s post we’re going over the 7 types of rest (and why you need them all!). Stay tuned, and we’ll get to the bottom of why we’re all so sleepy all the time.  

1. Physical Rest

Now we all know what physical exhaustion feels like. It is all those moments where you’ve struggled to keep your eyelids open or simply couldn’t stop the yawns from spewing. These physical indicators tell you that you’re lacking passive physical rest—aka sleep—which is easily remedied by going to bed a few minutes earlier or sneaking in a mid-afternoon catnap. 

However, this traditional, sleepy rest is only one component of physical rest. The other is active physical rest – things like yoga at our Boutique Fitness Studio, stretching, holistic bodywork, and massage work. Although it isn’t technically required for our bodies’ daily functioning, active physical rest helps improve our bodies’ circulation and flexibility. 

2. Mental Rest 

If you’re feeling sluggish, yet are all caught up on physical rest, then you might need a little mental boost. Mental fatigue looks different for all of us, but the easiest way to combat it is by giving yourself a mental break. 

To prevent hitting that inevitable wall, we should all be making a conscious effort to turn our brains off during the day. These breaks include anything from going on a walk to grabbing a quick bite to practicing deep, mindful breathing. Practices like these remind our bodies to slow down, which renews our capacity for productivity later.

3. Sensory Rest

Sensory rest has everything to do with our surroundings. Take a quick moment to scan the room around you. Are there any bright lights? Funky smells? Loud music? Have you been staring into a computer screen? If so, how long?

It doesn’t matter where you are or what you’re doing, external stimuli can quickly overwhelm your senses. To prevent a sensory overload, we recommend conducting a little sensory reboot every so often. 

This can be achieved with something as simple as a 5-minute meditation, or you could take a few moments to close your eyes and regroup. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, you could try taking an “electronic-free” hour, afternoon, day, or weekend. (Crazy idea –we know.) 

4. Creative Rest

Did you know that every one of us uses our creative juices at some point throughout the day? Yes, even those of you who don’t think you’re creative. From pitching meetings to creating content, you honestly might be surprised by just how creative you are. 

To make sure our creativity is in full supply, we all need regular creative resets. However, how you choose to do so is totally up to you! Some of our favorites include taking a stroll through nature or letting ourselves get lost in a fabulous book. Essentially, you’re looking for activities that relieve the pressure to create while offering some inspiration, which of course boosts creativity. 

5. Emotional Rest

Emotional rest is another equally important (yet often overlooked!) component of rest and rejuvenation. If you’re not quite sure what we’re talking about, think about how often you say yes to do something (that—let’s be honest—you would rather not do). 

For people-pleasers especially, it is easy to sacrifice your wellbeing for the sake of others. Therefore, we like to describe emotional rest as taking a “yes-vacation.” (Now truly, doesn’t that sound appealing?) 

Instead of immediately agreeing to something or someone, pause to acknowledge how you are feeling. Tell whoever that you’ll think about it and commit only when you’re feeling up to it. 

If your day-to-day work or life is emotionally heavy, then this type of rest is especially important. It gives your brain that oh-so-needed pause, and it is as simple as taking a few quiet moments for yourself or chatting with someone with whom you are your authentic self. 

6. Social Rest

Social rest is especially important for introverts and people who find socializing exhausting. We’re able to socially rest merely by balancing our exhausting social encounters with rejuvenating ones. 

To start, try making a list of all the people you find stimulating, engaging, and easy to be around. Then, make a list of all the people whose company is more of a challenge. From there, make a conscious effort to maximize time spent with the former group and minimize time spent with the latter. (Trust us, you will quickly start to feel noticeably lighter.) 

This little boundary will also equip you to love the harder-to-love people in your life with more grace and energy!

7. Spiritual Rest

Last, but not least, is spiritual rest. Now regardless of your spiritual beliefs, all human beings need to feel connected to something larger than themselves. 

We feel spiritually rested when we are connected beyond the physical and mental realms. And instead of feeling disconnected from the world, we feel a deep sense of love, belonging, and purpose. 

If you practice a certain religion, this could mean devoting a few, quiet moments to prayer. Or you could try a morning meditation. If neither sounds particularly appealing to you, a spiritual reboot could also be achieved by volunteering in your local community or participating in something that forces you to look beyond yourself. 

So, What Next?

Here at R+R, we are all about full-body healing that is tailored to your personal needs. Regardless of whichever kind of rest your body is craving, we’d love to help you achieve it. 

If you’re ready to begin your wellness journey, browse our Where to Start page. All our offerings are synergistic in nature, so there is truly no wrong place to start. Honor whatever your body needs today, and our team will help you navigate from there.