BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM

Have you ever woken up from a full night’s sleep feeling more drained than when you went to bed? Or do you find yourself zoning out while in conversation, even after having a good night’s sleep? If you’ve felt exhausted despite getting enough sleep, you’re not alone. It turns out that rest entails considerably more than just sleeping.

Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, a busy physician and mother of two, discovered herself burned out and perennially fatigued about ten years ago, despite sleeping well. “What happens if you get eight hours and you’re still exhausted? Cause that’s where I found myself,” she says. As a result, she began to investigate why she, like many of her patients, felt fatigued. What she uncovered was eye-opening: we all require seven different forms of rest to feel completely rejuvenated.

Dr. Dalton-Smith’s research, which is detailed in her book Sacred Rest (2017), highlights seven important areas of rest: physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, sensory, social, and creative. Let’s look at each type and how they might help you refresh your mind, body, and spirit.

1. Physical rest

Sleep, as it turns out, is only one component of physical rest. There is also active physical rest, which includes relaxing activities such as yoga, stretching, and massage therapy. These techniques benefit your body by improving blood flow, decreasing stress, and promoting healing. If you’re experiencing aches or stress in your body, you could be due for some active rest.

According to Dr. Dalton-Smith, physical rest involves more than just going to bed at night; it also includes giving your body relaxation during the day. Try introducing active rest into your routine, such as going for a walk or performing some moderate stretching, and you’ll notice the difference.

2. Mental rest

Do racing thoughts keep you up at night? Or do you struggle to concentrate on daily tasks? This could indicate that you are short on mental rest. “Mental rest deficit has consistently been one of the top two types of rest people need,” said Dr. Dalton-Smith. 

A quick trip may provide temporary relief, but long-term treatments such as taking regular pauses throughout the day to clear your mind are more sustainable. Whether it’s a few minutes of deep breathing or writing in a notebook, allowing your brain to relax is essential for mental recuperation.

3. Spiritual rest

Spiritual rest meets our deepest needs for meaning, purpose, and connection. No matter what your views are, everyone benefits from feeling like they belong and that their life is important. A lack of spiritual rest may make you feel distant from your purpose.

To restore spiritual rest, try engaging in practices that are meaningful to you, such as prayer, meditation, or spending time with a supportive community. Giving back to others or expressing gratitude can help meet spiritual needs.

4. Emotional rest

You may require emotional respite if you continually put on a brave face or struggle to say “no” to others. According to Dr. Dalton-Smith, “An emotionally rested person answers the question, ‘How are you?’ with a truthful, ‘I’m not OK.’”

Emotional rest occurs when we can express ourselves authentically, without having to disguise our emotions. This might be as simple as talking to a trusted friend or seeking treatment to process feelings in a secure environment.

5. Sensory rest

Between the continual buzz of technology and overstimulating situations, our senses are frequently overloaded. “Most of us aren’t aware of how sensory environments can impact our feelings and energy levels,” Dr. Dalton-Smith explains.

Sensory rest entails taking a break from these distractions. Try spending time in silence, turning off bright lights, or simply closing your eyes for a few moments throughout a hectic day. Unplugging from screens and other stimulation can benefit your neurological system.

6. Social rest

Social rest is beneficial for everyone, not just introverts. Dr. Dalton-Smith defines social rest as the balance between relationships that energize us and those that deplete us. If you’re always satisfying the demands of others, you could require social respite.

To restore social balance, prioritize spending time with people who inspire you without expecting anything in return. This could include declining some social gatherings or creating limits with people who deplete your energy.

7. Creative rest

Whether you realize it or not, you utilize creativity every day to solve problems, develop ideas, and think beyond the box. However, when you’re at your lowest point, creative relaxation is just what you need to rekindle your passion.

Appreciating beauty in nature, art, or music promotes creative rest. As Dr. Dalton-Smith points out, when we simply absorb beauty without feeling compelled to create something from it, we replenish our creative energy. To refuel your creativity, go on a walk in nature, visit an art gallery, or listen to your favorite music without distraction.

Prioritizing rest in a busy world

Regardless of what society tells us, rest is necessary—not something we deserve after working hard. Dr. Dalton-Smith emphasizes the importance of resting on a daily basis, rather than only during vacations or weekends. By addressing these seven sorts of rest, you may overcome the burnout culture and feel really rejuvenated.

So, what form of relaxation do you require the most right now? Dr. Dalton-Smith’s Rest Quiz can help you identify which aspects of your life require attention. The goal is not merely to get more sleep, but to rest in ways that rejuvenate your entire being. As we take time to rest in many areas, we can enter what Dr. Dalton-Smith refers to as a “rest revolution,” in which feeling energized and well is a necessity rather than a luxury.