Rest is very important for the general well-being of the body. Like an electronic appliance, our body needs a time-out to recharge. No matter how much work you do, remember that you’re only human. Even though you have to work hard to provide for yourself and your family, or study hard to do well in school, lack of adequate rest can have adverse effects on your body. If you work for too long, you become less productive. Rest is bigger than just sleep. In fact, most times, resting doesn’t have anything to do with closing your eyes. You may consciously need to give yourself rest to restore a specific personal need. You may be creatively tired, mentally drained, physically exhausted or emotionally beaten down. Once you’ve figured out the type of rest you need, it’s time to adapt your rest to fit that specific need. Here are the different ways you need to rest:
1. Physical Rest
This type of rest is probably the easiest one to identify. If you need physical rest, your body may let you know by inducing pain in certain muscles, or you may lack the energy to do physical activities. Physical rest can be categorized into passive or active. Passive physical rest is associated with the time spent asleep, like napping. Meanwhile, active physical rest refers to any activity that can improve your physical well-being, such as massage, exercise, stretching or yoga.
2. Social Rest
Social rest is the restorative, excellent energy boost we get when we spend time with people who are positive and supportive. They fill us with energy. Many of us spend too much time with folks who have the opposite effect. A way to increase this is to spend time with people who don’t need anything from you. People whose presence you simply enjoy. Let them pour energy back into you.
3. Creative Rest
Creative rest is when you give your brain time to work subconsciously on creative problems. It is a place where there is no pressure to produce, but simply a moment to marvel at your surroundings. Take a walk around your neighbourhood or even just through your front yard. Notice something in nature that is beautiful. Stop what you are doing and play the music that inspires you. Don’t listen while doing something else. Stop and enjoy the music. Do the thing you loved to do when you were young. Take a day off with no schedule. Put away your to-do list. Do the things all day that inspire you.
4. Mental Rest
If you often feel distracted, overwhelmed or unable to fully concentrate, your better have some mental rest. An individual who is mentally drained may experience a similar brain fog condition or feel like every task needs twice as much effort to complete. Mental rest means learning how to take a break from the constant chatter in your brain and embracing cerebral stillness and quiet. Here are some quick ways you get it right now:
- Meditate for a few minutes each day.
- Think about your daily to-do list and prioritize which activities are necessary and important.
- Put your devices away, especially work gadgets, an hour before bed.
- Allot an extra day or two at the start or end of a vacation to decompress.
5. Emotional Rest
If you have gone through emotional stress, you need emotional rest. Reducing the emotional symptoms of stress starts with reducing the sources of stress in your life. Get it by sharing your experiences with someone. It’s important to take time regularly to tend to your emotions so that you don’t reach complete emotional exhaustion.
6. Sensory Rest
The internet and all that comes with it, bright lights, computer screens, background noise and multiple conversations — whether they’re in an office or on Zoom calls — can cause our senses to feel overwhelmed. This can be countered by doing something as simple as closing your eyes for a minute in the middle of the day, as well as by intentionally unplugging from electronics at the end of every day. Consider putting aside the technology and stepping outside for fresh air if you’re able to do so.
Rest is important for our survival as human beings. Take a personal diagnosis of the kind you need, and put in the effort to ensure that you are getting enough.
