When was the last time you felt rested?
Do you get a full night’s sleep, but still wake up feeling tired?
Dr. Jessica Katanga, MD, in a recent viral TikTok video, shared examples of 7 ways that we can rest our minds and bodies that have nothing to do with getting 7 hours of sleep at night.
Her examples inspired me to take an inventory of the ways I rest and to reflect on my personal relationship with rest, sleep, and self-care. Part of my resistance to rest is the mental blocks I have about when I’ve earned rest – have I done enough, should I be tired right now, could I be doing something more productive, etc.?
It can be difficult to fully embrace self-care without addressing your mindset about rest. Many of us find it easier to purchase a product or service than to engage in rest that is silent, free, introspective and solitary.
As you read the examples below, reflect on the areas you’d like to improve and those you currently enjoy. I provided some examples of my own for each category.
7 Types of Rest
- Physical Rest to relieve your body of stress and muscle tension – this rest can be active like moving through yin or restorative yoga poses, taking a nature walk or stretching tense muscles, or it can be passive like lying down, swinging gently in a hammock or taking a bath.
- Sensory Rest to remove yourself from stimuli and disturbances – this rest might involve a digital detox from apps, devices and all notifications or time in meditation or prayer.
- Spiritual Rest to tap into your beliefs of a higher power – this rest might involve time in meditation, prayer or time spent in your place of worship. This rest can involve spiritual elements like crystals and tarot card readings.
- Mental Rest to quiet your anxieties and refocus on what is important – this rest might include talk therapy sessions, speaking with your spiritual advisor, journaling, guided meditation or silent time to reflect. This rest is permission to not be helpful and a day of saying no to others so that you can say yes to yourself.
- Creative Rest is where you are inspired by your surroundings – this rest can be a way to discover or refine a hobby or to enjoy a sensory experience through food, art, or music.
- Social Rest to identity relationships that nourish your energy – this rest is a call to action to conserve your energy for people who fill your cup, and to leave relationships that no longer serve you. This rest includes a brave space of letting your guard down with close friends and family and being vulnerable.
- Emotional Rest to express your true feelings – this rest might involve speaking with a therapist or having a heart-to-heart with a loved one.
How to Take a Rest Inventory
Be gentle with yourself and use this as time of exploration. Anything you notice is a way to enhance your rest practice, not to judge yourself harshly.
You deserve rest. You are enough. You do enough. You have enough.
“This is about more than naps. We are attempting to disrupt a toxic system that ties our worth to how much we produce. Our bodies do not belong to capitalism. We know better. Rest and resist.” – The Nap Ministry, Nap Bishop, Tricia Hersey
