We all know that getting enough rest is a key factor in maintaining our wellbeing. I had often linked rest with sleep – often then wondering how, even with plenty of sleep, I have often still felt tired. This led me to look into “rest” more thoroughly, and to finding the work of Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith, physician, speaker, coach and author of “Sacred Rest”.

Dr Daulton-Smith states “Rest encompasses the restorative activities we do that help us refill our tanks, which become depleted throughout the day. It truly reenergizes us.” She is clear that rest is about much more than just sleep. She goes on to define seven types of rest that everyone requires.

Seven Types of Rest

How much rest you need and how often you need to replenish each type of rest varies from person to person. “One size does not fit all when it comes to rest. Everything you do draws from a different pool of energy. The best rest occurs when you revive the specific kinds of energy you regularly deplete,” Dr Daulton-Smith explains.

Here are the seven types of rest with a brief explanation:

  • Creative: Engaging with things that inspire and motivate you, such as nature and art.
  • Mental: When you quiet your mind and focus on what’s really important.
  • Physical: Rest that relieves your body of muscle aches and tension and helps improve your sleep.
  • Social: Spending time on relationships you cherish and engaging with people who enhance your life.
  • Emotional: The ability to express your deepest feelings and be your genuine self.
  • Sensory: Taking a respite from background noise, including negative self talk and interaction with digital devices.
  • Spiritual: Tapping into the feeling that you are part of something bigger, and having a sense of belonging and fitting in.

My restful week

As much of my work is with school leaders and teachers, it makes sense for me to also take a break over the half term. I have been enjoying the break, and using the time to practice closely the seven types of rest.

Monday started with some show jump coaching, great for mental rest, as purely focused on my horse, the exercises and some progress as an added bonus. The rest of the day was spent almost totally outdoors, trying to get the garden in order, so more mental rest, creative rest and already starting to feel the benefits. In addition, time with my husband and Dad – social rest spending time on relationships I cherish, I can see exactly how powerful this focus on rest is.

Tuesday, out running with the dogs, always a real head clear, and my favourite mental and creative rest, where I was inspired to capture some of my rest journey in my blog. Often where I have my best ideas and creative thoughts, running provides me with the sort of clarity that comes from this important form of rest.

Wednesday, my fortnightly Zoom catch up with fellow coach, Terri provided emotional rest. We often coach each other, chat about things that are going on for us, and this provides an opportunity to talk things through, without judgement, to be open and vulnerable. Not all conversations and relationships allow this, or maybe we don’t often allow ourselves this form of rest. For me, this is something I feel the benefit of enormously.

More creative rest too on Wednesday, with a bit of work on the house number project. Just a cut off from an old scaffold board, some sanding, routered edges and the start of Dremel engraving (before painting the number and varnishing). Still a work in progress, but a form of rest I have discovered recently.

Thursday was a day of social rest, starting with a run on a new route with a friend. Next followed an afternoon of unexpected visitors – lovely friends and neighbours, before an evening of drinks with colleagues.

Friday has been a day of physical rest, with some stretching and also, up to mid afternoon, sensory rest, enjoying some quiet time and a break from screens and devices too. Tonight, on my Teacher’s Talk Radio Show, I talked about rest and also meditation – as spiritual rest. Callers shared ideas such as looking out to sea and up into the sky to see we are part of something much bigger.

Overall, a very restful week. As we discussed in the show, ensuring the seven types of rest are incorporated into life back at work is vital for our wellbeing. Short meditations such as a body scan can help, regular brain breaks and engaging with colleagues and screen savers of restful places and images.

I would love to hear your thoughts. How best do you rest?