The Essential Types of Rest we all Need to Consider in a Non-Stop world
If there is one thing most of us need right now, it’s to rest more
This morning, I almost fell off my treadmill when I came across an article.
The answers indeed appear when you are ready to pay attention and get the hell into action!
Our mind and body have a way of giving off some very high-frequency feedback that we all should listen to.
Resting is important, but not many of us are good at it.
I’m talking about myself here as much as everyone else reading this.
This post is based on a TEDS “How to be a better human” series.
It contains several points I’d like to highlight, which you must hear.
Let me ask you a question first.
Do you feel tired all the time and find sleep isn’t helping your exhausted state?
Well, you aren’t alone.
We assume having asleep is enough of a rest to invigorate us.
But it’s actually, Not enough.
We have many different types of rest that we need, which sleep alone doesn’t cover.
Rest and restoration belong to seven critical areas of life that you probably didn’t realise (in fact, I didn’t either)
Rest number one is physical, either passive or active
This is the one we assume covers everything, from sleeping every night to napping during the day.
But active rest is still refreshing, like yoga, stretching, foam rolling, massage or even walking.
This activity is a critical factor that helps with flexibility, circulation or ironing out the bumps in our body.
We need some mental rest
This is our ability to turn that never-ending stream of thoughts into our brains.
It’s further enhanced with coffee and other stimulants; the wired brain struggles with sleep and is always tired.
Bringing in some conscious awareness of your body and how you feel helps.
Every couple of hours, stop, get up and make yourself some tea, walk back to your desk the long way.
Taking the focus off any task at hand for a moment allows the brain to have a mini-mental break.
Usually, when you disarm intense focusing, ideas tend to appear out of nowhere.
Step away from any sensory stimulation
This refers to computer screens, devices, bright lights, and conversations all around us.
Too much of this can send you into sensory overwhelm, unable to focus and constantly distracted.
An option is to close your eyes for a few minutes, taking some deep breaths when it gets too much for you.
Turning off devices in the evening and switching off from any work focus apps is essential.
Use an alarm clock instead of your phone, and if you must have it on, put it in sleep mode so that you won’t be distracted by application notifications.
Creative rest for those of us being squeezed of our creativity
If you are like me, at the mercy of anyone needing some creative assistance, then this was made for us.
Creative blocks usually happen when we are under pressure, multiple deadlines without the much-needed space to brainstorm and sit on the idea for a little while.
During times like this, I switch off by plugging in my tunes and zoning out for a bit.
Going for a walk in fresh air is another way. I allow my mind to wander as much as it needs to.
Inspiration, amongst others, is a must.
I don’t have anyone else creative around me, so I take my exploration online.
Pinterest is my first stop, followed by Canva and my endless resource library of inspiration (stock images and illustrations).
Looking at other inspiring work takes the pressure off my brain to develop endless ideas on the fly.
Alternating between different creative abilities is another way to rest whilst working on another.
That can be cooking, writing, drawing or getting out some pencils to colour in. All of these provide creative relief whilst allowing your brain to rest in one area.
We all need an outlet for emotional rest
Spending most of your day people-pleasing, then going home and pleasing your family can become exhausting.
We all need to express our emotions and feelings comfortably.
It’s important to step away and start making yourself happy, too — even if it’s only for an hour or so during the day.
Perhaps it can be as simple as taking a break from your work, going for a walk away from home or having a massage.
Speaking to a trusted friend about your feelings is another outlet that can be neutralised with some humour.
What about emotional rest from social interaction and people?
This is very important because many introverts need time away from people.
Space from people gives us the freedom to allow our own voice to flourish and take a higher level of importance.
Being around people all the time is exhausting for me.
As a mum, I tend to be the person everyone turns to find the answers to.
So it does get emotionally and mentally exhausting having to know all the answers.
Running away to a park sometimes is a great idea!
Resting on a spiritual level — tapping into a higher conscious
This can get a little airy-fairy for some people, but we all have an inner voice that speaks to us of warnings and incoming messages.
We don’t always take these on and ignore the obvious until it happens.
Time, space, and peace are required for this voice to appear and give us the answers we seek.
To activate this, try meditation or doing some body-mind activity.
Take Away
There are so many different types of sensory overload that we can experience at any given time.
Sometimes sleep isn’t the only thing we need, but switching off sensory overload that’s dominating our home and work life is a way of breaking accessible and invigorating that solid point.
Getting the right kind of rest for what has been used the most is very important.
Take the time to review how your levels of rest are on all these subjects and find out what you need to work on for mental and emotional health.
👇🏼 Please have a look at this Ted talk for more below 👇🏼
If you would like to read more articles like this or start writing your own, please sign up via my link. I’d love to see you on the other side.
Sign up here for your medium subscription.
I get a portion from your monthly fee at no extra cost to you, and it will go a long way in supporting me as a writer.
If you would like to express gratitude with coffee, send the love via this link.
