The Seven Types of Rest

As the days get shorter and the darkness expands, I can’t help but notice my desire to rest more. Maybe it’s also the increased busy-ness with the holidays as well. Either way, I re-visited a great ted post on the 7 ways I can help myself restore, and here is a quick breakdown:

Physical Rest

This is the rest that we all know about, but there are two subtypes here - passive and active. Passive rest is sleeping and napping, while active rest is taking part in activities that rejuvenate us, like a restorative yoga class, massage, reflexology or acupuncture. 

 Mental Rest

This is especially important for those of us who go-go-go all day long. You keep trying to push through because you are SO busy, but it gets harder and harder to focus on what you are doing. Taking a break to rest your mind every couple of hours actually improves focus and productivity. I promise! Check out our blog post on Ultradian Rhythms to learn more. 

 Sensory Rest

Screens, noise, bright fluorescent lights - these all have our senses on high alert a lot of the time. Taking time to close your eyes, step away from the electronics and enjoying a bit of peace and quiet go a long way to restore your energy. This is especially important at the end of the day. Put away all those stimulating devices, dim the lights and let your mind and body relax. 

This is why we turn out the lights and have you put away your phone while enjoying your acupuncture or reflexology sessions. 

 Creative Rest

For all the problem solvers out there, I’m looking at you! Get yourself inspired, whether it’s nature or art or beautiful music. Taking in beauty restores your creativity and can bring you back to a place of inspiration. 

 Emotional Rest

Are you the “yes” girl? Are you always willing to help, even when it is just one too many things on your plate? Getting emotional rest can be as simple a matter as saying no. Notice I didn’t say easy. I said simple. They are two very different things!
It’s time to try out being your authentic self - say how you feel and see if you feel more energetic in general. I know, baby steps, girl, baby steps. 

 Social Rest

Take note of how you feel around different people. Do you feel drained or energized? This can help you make good choices about who to spend your time with. And, if you know you’re going to be with a “champire” (chi vampire - a term we coined years ago), you can be prepared - even just being aware of it can reduce the amount of energy loss. 

 Spiritual Rest

Being connected to a spiritual practice - prayer, meditation or spiritual community can bring about a great sense of belonging, purpose and love. When added to your daily routine, this connection helps sustain your energy levels, along with creating a sense of well-being overall. 

 How do you rate in each of these categories? Are you getting rest all around or are there areas that could use some improvement? I think even just being aware of these other types of rest is a good start. Next time you are feeling tired, check in and ask yourself - what kind of rest do I really need today?

As always, we are here for you! Let us know what you need. 💜