The 7 Kinds of Rest Your Brain and Body Need (and How to Get Them)

March is Sleep Awareness Month, and as we've been working to improve our sleep, we've also been learning about other kinds of rest.

You've probably realized from personal experience that eight hours of sleep doesn't always equate to feeling restful and relaxed. That's because physical rest is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to actually giving our bodies and minds the break they need. If you're looking to make the most of your sleep, below are all of the types of rest, and how to work them into your routine.

Physical Rest

Physical rest is probably the first thing you imagine when you think of rest. This includes things like sleeping and sitting around  relaxing, which allows your physical body to rest and recover from your daily activities. This kind of rest if necessary for both your body in mind to function, whether that means strenuous physical activity or having a clear mind for problem-solving. Of course, resting your body can also be active, as in stretching or a yoga practice. It also includes how you take care of your body to facilitate the things that happen behind the scenes when you're not resting, such as eating right and moving your body to fuel it and get even more out of your rest.

(via Unsplash)

 

Also read about: These 5 Natural Supplements Can Help You Fall Asleep Better

 

Mental Rest

It may not be discussed as often, but mental rest can be just as important as physical rest. Oftentimes, it can even be disruptive to your sleep if a busy mind prevents you from easily falling or staying asleep. Constantly ruminating on the past or worrying about the future takes up a lot of mental energy, which can be distracting and make it difficult to think clearly and take everything into consideration.

Encouraging mental rest can be tough when your thoughts are racing, but mindful practices like journaling or meditation can help, especially if you set aside time to do them throughout the day. Try not to judge your thoughts and feelings, observing them before you allow them to pass. Work to view feelings and thoughts as both separate concepts and ones that have an intrinsic relationship. This can make it easier to stop them from bogging you down.

 

Also read about: 6 Things to Try When You're Feeling Overwhelmed

 

Emotional Rest

Emotional rest is a more complex concept, but also important to your daily well-being. When people are frequently in a heightened emotional state or often have to juggle and manage the emotional well-being as others, they can carry a heavy emotional burden. They might also feel that they have to conceal or mask their own emotions and pretend that everything is fine. All of these things promote good emotional rest, which is about being able to feel and share your emotions with others in an authentic way and feeling connection through them. We feel lighter and more free when we can express ourselves openly and process emotions in a healthy way.

 

Social Rest

There's no doubt you've heard of introverts and extroverts. The idea is that everyone has their own kind of social battery, and while extroverts are recharged by spending their time with others, introverts get that energy back by spending quiet time by themselves. Others exist somewhere in the middle, being energized by being around the right people, and drained by others. There might be times solitude makes you feel restless and others when it's highly soothing.Understanding which type of person you are, and under which circumstances, is the key to finding your balance with social rest.

(via Unsplash)

 

Also read about: How to Figure Out If You're An Introvert or an Extrovert

 

Sensory Rest

Our senses—sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste—are often bombarded throughout the day, and a lot of this sensory input we receive is out of our control. If you find yourself easily overwhelmed and overstimulated by these things, it can be very beneficial to take regular breaks from them.

When you're overloaded, try finding a quiet and dark place to relax for a moment. If closing your eyes doesn't block out enough light, try using an eye mask. You might want to invest in earplugs or noise-canceling headphones for finding peace in noisy environments, or even listening to white noise to control the sound in your space and mask outside input. Sometimes, even uncomfortable clothes can add to sensory overwhelm, so avoid necks that are too tight and scratchy materials and opt for something comfier to take that off your mental load. Avoiding too much sensory stimulation (particularly in the form of your phone screen) before bed can also be beneficial for faster and more peaceful sleep.

 

Also read about: Heard of White Noise? Discover the 'Colors' of Noise and What They Might Do for Your Brain

 

Creative Rest

Anyone who does creative work for a career or hobby knows that the creativity doesn't always flow consistently. Generating new ideas and things all the time can quickly lead to burnout, especially when you're pushing through a block and keep making, even when you don't really have it in you.

Instead, we urge you to let those blocks tell you something. Take breaks and make time away from your creative projects and allow the creative part of your brain some recovery time. Instead, try immersing yourself in creative inspiration, with no expectations or pressure for your motivation to return.  Maybe that's visiting a museum, being in nature or just spending time around other creative people. Let yourself do nothing and don't try to hard to reach a solution. Oftentimes, it'll come find you, instead.

(via Shutterstock)

 

Spiritual Rest

The concept of spiritual rest is something you can benefit from even if you're not religious or spiritual yourself. It's about creating a deeper purpose and living with intention, often in a way that connects you with others or the earth. Maybe that means finding community with others who share similar values or goals, or communing with nature. You might find some kind of peace through meditation or esoteric practices. It's all about finding balance and meaning, and a deeper sense of peace and rest within.

 

Want to get better sleep, fast? Click HERE for our favorite creative hacks for falling asleep quickly.