You May Need More Rest Than You Think

Photo by Adetayo Adefala on Unsplash

For a lot of women, especially BIPOC women, rest growing up might’ve been viewed as lazy, and “doing nothing.” The trouble is that for many of us, growing up with the idea that ‘rest equates to lazy’ or ‘unproductive’ makes it hard to reframe rest as a necessary part of our growth and to allow ourselves guilt-free breaks. On top of this, we commonly believe that rest involves watching TV, going on vacation, or putting on a face mask with a glass of wine, and while those can be ways we give ourselves rest, there are actually seven different varieties. And sometimes the rest you need may not necessarily be the one you thought of, so we are breaking it down.

The goal isn’t to suddenly incorporate everything all at once, but to truly tune in to how we feel and actually ask ourselves what we need, categorize it, and then find a way to incorporate our rest into our busy lives, whether that’s a walk around the block with a friend or a five-minute meditation.

Physical Rest

This may be the rest you are most familiar with, physically resting your body! Think things like: sleep, naps, a low-impact workout, or a massage. Signs you might need physical rest include physical fatigue, soreness, lack of motivation, illness, higher resting heart rate, and poor sleep.

Mental Rest

If you are someone who thinks so hard your brain hurts, or is juggling a lot of tasks at once, or is processing a lot of information, you may need to schedule some mental rest. Something to quiet the noise and take a brain break. So things like meditation or mindfulness are great tools, as well as scheduling actual brain breaks throughout your day! Also consider low-effort activities that you enjoy, or brain dumps to clear your mind and reduce the mental load. You may also need this type of rest if you are feeling anxious, having racing thoughts, forgetting things, feeling overwhelmed or having brain fog.

Emotional Rest

This is for the people pleasers: emotional rest is about expressing and holding space for your thoughts and feelings. This is a great time for therapy, a heartfelt conversation with a friend, introspective reflections, journaling, or anything that fosters authentic expression, setting boundaries, listening to yourself, and understanding where your energy is leaking. If you are doomscrolling, numbing your emotions, lacking boundaries, or feeling overwhelmed or anxious, you may need to sit with yourself and see what your emotions are telling you.

Social Rest

For someone always on the go, attending back-to-back plans, work events, and holiday parties it can be really draining, even for the most extroverted gal. Being ‘on’ can take up a lot of energy. Having an understanding of who and/or what social situations can be draining for you is a great place to start, as well as scheduling some time to recharge before and/or after to replenish your energy levels. And if you can attend an event for a shorter time or pass altogether consider that as well.

Sensory Rest

We are constantly stimulated, and sometimes you just need a breather! Things like dimming the lights, minimizing noise, limiting or avoiding screen time, embracing quiet, are great ways to give this rest to yourself. If you are irritated by loud sounds, bright lights, your eyes are straining , and you feel fatigued in a loud or bright environment, you might need this kind of rest. And after all, a lot of us are on our computers eight hours a day, so you may need this more than you realize.

Creative Rest

This type of rest encourages you to tap into your creative nature! Spending time in nature, visiting an art gallery, engaging in a creative hobby you love, such as knitting, baking, or pottery, reading a book for pleasure, and listening to music are just a few ways to creatively rest. If you feel uninspired, creatively burned out, or struggling with writer’s block, you may need a creative boost. This might also be especially needed if you work in a creative field!

Spiritual Rest

Spiritual rest is like a tonic shot of vitality; it’s about connecting with something greater than yourself. Something that makes you marvel at the world, and feel inspired and connected. Some of the best ways to engage with this kind of rest include volunteering, prayer, connecting with nature, practising gratitude, and meditating. If you are feeling like ‘what is the point,’ overall hopeless, sad, stuck, or in need of a refresh, you may need some spiritual TLC.