The 5 Types of Rest

We all know sleep is important but it’s frequently something that eludes us, no matter how hard we try to get those 8 hours. With sleep being so difficult to come by on an average night, it has become even more difficult for many with the additional stress and anxiety caused by the events of the past few years. Sleep gives our minds the opportunity to slow down and process our daily experiences. When we’re not able to get good quality sleep we may miss out on all the restorative benefits that come with those elusive 8 hours. 

The good news is, while getting good quality sleep may be difficult, there are ways to rest and recover outside of sleep that are greatly beneficial to our overall well-being. Focusing on the various types of rest can allow our minds to slow and our nervous system to regulate which can lead to longer and better quality sleep. Below I’ve highlighted the specific types of rest we can benefit from and small improvements we can make in each category. As you read, take the time to explore what areas of rest are the most difficult for you. This can help you prioritize where to start on your journey to a more regulated nervous system and more restful sleep. 

Physical Rest

Physical rest can be obtained both passively and actively. Passive physical rest is the baseline amount of sleep we need for our bodies to feel refreshed. Our sleep baseline varies from person to person and is impacted by our daily stressors. Taking the time to reflect on how you feel after 8 hours of sleep versus 6 hours, and recognizing if you’ve had a particularly calm or stressful day, can help determine what the optimal hours of sleep are for you. Active physical rest refers to restorative activities such as yoga, stretching and walking.

Sensory Rest

From where I’m sitting right now, I have access to a computer, phone and television. Each of these devices allows me to consume an immense amount of sensory input which can lead to sensory overload. Removing notifications from our devices, eliminating excess noise and turning the television off when it’s not being used are important ways of decreasing our sensory consumption. 

Mental Rest

Our society has normalized and glorified multitasking. At any given time, we’re engaging in multiple activities or thought processes, jumping from one task to another. This can be very mentally taxing, especially when it’s our baseline way of functioning. Taking a break in between tasks to focus on your breathing, reading a book or doing a short mindfulness activity are all ways to slow your mind. Consciously choosing to focus on one task at a time and closing out the extra tabs on your computer is a great way to decrease your mental load. 

Emotional Rest

We all have different versions of our personalities we lean into in various areas of our lives. We show up differently at work, in our relationships, with friends and with family. It’s important to have someone we can be our complete self with. Our authentic self can be messy, emotional and uncomfortable. Having someone we trust to be our raw, not so pretty self with is very important. Keeping our emotions bottled up or “prettying” them for others can be mentally and emotionally taxing. Speaking with a therapist is also a great way to give yourself room to process your emotions by being unfiltered and vulnerable. 

Social Rest

Social rest refers to bringing awareness to the people you’re spending time with and what your time together looks like. Whether these interactions are personal or professional, these relationships have the potential to be draining. Spending time with and focusing on connecting with others requires you to exert energy, even more so if the individuals need something from you. This could look like emotional support, completing a task, or helping to solve a problem. Being needed by someone doesn’t speak to anything negative about the individual themselves or the quality of your relationship. However, it does highlight how important it is to surround yourself with relationships that are reciprocal - where there is an equal give and take. These relationships are the ones that feed you, rejuvenate you, and allow you to show up for the other people in your life.

If you're located in the greater Chicago area or the state of Illinois and are interested in working together, I invite you to reach out for a complimentary consultation. My colleagues at SG Therapy Group and I look forward to connecting with you!

Sydney Gideon, LCSW

About the Author

Sydney Gideon, LCSW is a clinical social worker specializing in trauma & PTSD, anxiety, depression, and adjustment disorder. She incorporates EMDR, CBT, and Trauma-Informed Therapy into her treatment. Read more about Sydney here.