7 Ways to Actively Engage in Rest | by Joe Holder
Rest is low-key viewed as anti-American. Even our leisure time is supposed to be frenetic and fast paced, filling our vacation moments with activities and long itineraries. During the pandemic, many of us struggled with the fact we weren’t doing anything, confused with the slowing of our days, even if we were healthy. The pandemic has hit many harder than others, but one thing is for certain — we’re tired — and we need more than just sleep to recover.
Yes, many of us might feel refreshed after a good night of shut eye but counterintuitively many of us don’t, still filled with lethargy after committing 8+ hours of time to bed. That’s because rest is much more than just sleep and there are 7 key types of rest you’re probably missing.
I’m a big fan of actively engaging in the pursuit of rest, but this is a tactic I had to learn over the years. I was approaching being burned the hell out. I’ve found inspiration in the Taoist thought process of wu-wei, or “the art of effortless action”, which I coined into my own personal philosophy of “strategic laziness” aka knowing when to insert recovery times in our life to make sure we feel well enough to keep moving forward .
On “Strategic Laziness”: “Athletes do what they should, not what it seems like they should be doing. Inaction is a form of action and athletes know which actions should be done and which shouldn’t, which saves time and energy and unnecessary wear and tear on the body.”
I think the grind culture is asinine — even resting has become a flex — with individuals taking time off from Instagram to then come back on Instagram and loudly proclaim about the benefits of taking time off Instagram while they are on…Instagram.
Fair enough.
But many people aren’t resting to their full capacities and I encourage you to do so, not to show off , but because you owe yourself that much. It shouldn’t be a privilege to feel better and there are ways to do that which don’t include spending money.
I’ve fallen in love with the work of Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith who constantly talks about 7 areas of rest, which can be found below. Understanding these can help us make up what we coin our “rest deficit,” by investing in other areas of rest besides sleep that will help us feel so much better.
- Physical Rest
Sleep, the rest most of us are familiar with. Still spend time investing in and improving your sleep.
- Mental Rest
Our brain isn’t always meant to be “ON.” Scheduling short breaks every couple hours can be magical. To learn more about why short breaks might actually increase both our well-being AND our productivity, check out this article on ultradian rhythms.
- Emotional Rest
Have a space to freely share your thoughts and feelings instead of putting on a “face” in various situations. Retreating into trusted loved ones to share our true sentiments is a form of emotional rest. Also, eliminate people-pleasing behavior and individuals who drain you.
- Social Rest
Take time to remove yourself from social interactions that might drown you of your energy. Introverts know all about this one!
- Sensory Rest
Chronic sensory stimulation that is the result of constant technology use can cause harm. Intentionally remove yourself from screens and social media use is likely the replenishment you need.
- Spiritual Rest
It is easy to get bogged down and lose a sense of purpose. Religious or not, taking time to engage in awe-inspiring moments, such as looking at the stars, going for a walk, or even spending time in nature (forest-bathing for example) can have tangible benefits for our well-being.
- Creative Rest
While we’re striving to be better, and of course more productive, it’s often beneficial to remove yourself from work and “creative” brainstorming. This often then leads to the breakthrough we’re seeking as we give information the necessary time to marinate. Take time just to enjoy things without it being always connected to work.
Everything we have to do requires energy and not all that energy is physical, so why not put energy into rest beyond sleep ?
Build out your “rest plan” and realize you’ll feel so much better for doing so.
For more information on this, check out the TEDx Talk from Dr. Dalton-Smith below.
Did this help? Leave a comment below or keep up with me on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for more beneficial tips.
