Rest…an Experiment
"Real rest feels like every cell is thanking you for taking care of you. It's calm, not full of checklists and chores. It's simple: not multitasking; not fixing broken things" – Jennifer Williamson
Hello Dear Ones,
Over the last couple of weeks, several of my sessions with clients have included discussions about rest.
I’ve talked in these newsletters before about how rest is sleep, and it’s also so much more than that. There are actually 7 types of rest:
Physical Rest: can be passive things like relaxation practices, sleep (7-9 hours is the recommendation for adults). And active physical rest includes things like yoga, meditative walking, tai chi, and qigong.
Mental Rest: can be things like meditation, body scan, or brain breaks where we take time to stare off, not focusing on anything in particular.
Sensory Rest: may be time spent in nature, stepping away from stimulating environments, taking time in a quiet place, and taking electronics breaks.
Creative Rest: can be any practice that gets you out of your logical brain and into the more creative thinking part of your brain. Doing things like writing, painting, knitting, dancing, singing, coloring, or anything that’s creative you enjoy doing.
Emotional Rest: can include setting boundaries, saying no, going to therapy, talking to someone you trust, or journaling.
Social Rest: includes healthy social connection, when you’re spending time with those you trust and can be yourself around.
Spiritual Rest: This may include going to church, time in nature, time spent in meditation, prayer, or listening to music, or participating in gratitude practices. This type of rest is very individualized depending on your values and beliefs.
Knowing these types of rest is helpful because rest is something we all need and deserve. For many of my clients, they share that they currently earn their rest time by being productive.
If that rings true for you, know you’re not alone, and I invite you to flip it and think about how you can earn your productive time by resting first.
When we’re well rested, we show up more able to be ourselves. We’re more patient, kind, and we get things done with less resistance. If we’re prioritizing the rest first, the things that need doing will get done with less time and energy expended.
A few of my clients have described how they’re moving through life feeling like they’re trying to swim upstream. They’re initially exhausted and overwhelmed by all of their commitments. Some of them are experiencing or close to feeling burnout.
Rest is the antidote. When we’re prioritizing the rest we truly need, our stress decreases, our sleep improves, and we’re more motivated to do what we know matters to us in a way that doesn’t feel like we’re fighting the stream to get things done. That feeling of going with the flow of the river is possible.
One thing I notice often is clients procrastinating by watching tv, reading, or doing chores and calling that rest time. Sadly it’s typically not. When we’re feeling the burden of an incomplete task, our mind and bodies aren’t truly resting. What’s needed is mindful and intentional rest. Free from fear based procrastinating.
Knowing all of that, I have a quick challenge for you if you’re up for it. Scroll back up and read the types of rest again. Think about which types of rest you’re doing well right now and celebrate that success! Also, consider what areas you would benefit from prioritizing. Which area sparked the most curiosity for you?
If you feel like you’ve been struggling with feeling overwhelmed and exhausted and are looking for some help to feel more consistently energetic, let’s talk. My 45-minute initial consults are always free, and I’d love the opportunity to support you on your journey to rest more.
With love and kindness,
Jessica
PS.
The fun thing I’ve been doing to take care of myself is yoga nidra. Yoga nidra is passive form of physical rest that promotes deep relaxation. It can be anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours. If you’re interested, you can check out a favorite video of mine here: Yoga Nidra for Deep Rest.
