The 7 Types of Rest We All Need

Have you ever felt so exhausted that all you needed was a good night’s sleep?

Everyone has.

But have you ever STILL felt exhausted, even after plenty of shut-eye? We wrongly think that “rest” means “sleep,” when in fact, there’s more to it than that. So says Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, author of “Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity.”

She says humans need seven kinds of rest:

1.      Physical. In addition to sleeping enough, take breaks throughout the day with deep breathing or yoga.

2.      Mental. You’re working too hard. You can’t focus. Well, unplug from your screens and meditate, or get away from other stresses on your brain.

3.      Social. Are you spending too much time on idle chatter with strangers? Or maybe it’s been too long since a heart-to-heart with a true-blue friend.

4.      Creative. We all use creative juices, even if we don’t think of ourselves as particularly creative. Replenish with inspiration from art, books, and other sources.

5.      Emotional. Talk to someone regularly about your feelings – friend, therapist, etc.

6.      Spiritual. This could mean going to worship services more, but it also might mean you need to examine your purpose or volunteer to help others.

7.      Sensory. Turn off your phones, computers and other gadgets. Focus on real life relationships, fresh air, and a nice walk, instead.

>Try this: Turn your phone off an hour before bedtime, and don’t keep it near the bed.