Adulting is difficult as hell, and no one can convince me otherwise. Sure, some people have their lives together and have everything planned – but for folks like us, we simply let things flow… for things to just crash and burn. Things, in this case, refer to our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being diminishing through time.
We put in long hours at work because we enjoy what we do, yet doing so might lead to the dreaded BURNOUT. Working nonstop to the point when your physical and mental states are screaming at you to take a break. However, if you are currently feeling burnout, a weekend respite would not suffice. Those two days of recuperation will not re-energize you for the long week ahead, and you may find yourself much more exhausted than before.
Rest, you see, isn’t only about unwinding on the weekend; it’s also about recharging every aspect of your body and getting back on your feet without feeling fatigued – even if you didn’t realise it. To effectively recharge your energy, you must arrange the appropriate restorative activities into your day – and according to Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, a medical practitioner, there are seven forms of rest you need to restore the right amount of rest you require.
Physical Rest
While physical rest does imply that you must sleep or at the very least take a nap, there are other types of physical rest that you may need to revive your body. There are two types of rest: passive (as previously indicated) and active, which includes exercises like yoga, stretching, and massage treatment. I know it’s a pain, because why make all that effort when you can just lie down? Believe it or not, active rest can significantly improve your body’s circulation and flexibility, allowing you to get the complete physical rest you need.
Social Rest
Being a social butterfly among your coworkers and friends is usually beneficial. However, if we fail to distinguish between connections that rejuvenate us and ones that fatigue us, it may become rather exhausting, and your social battery will be severely depleted. Surround yourself with nice and supporting people to get more social rest. Prevent connecting with people who drain your social energy if you want to avoid getting socially depleted. Spend time with folks who don’t expect anything from you and are just interested in being in your company and you’ll instantly know the difference in your social rest right away.
Mental Rest
Mental rest is much more crucial for, you know, the sake of your sanity. A well-rested mind necessitates a well-rested sleep, and if you’re having difficulties sleeping or are restless all night, you’re in desperate need of a decent night’s sleep. You may have difficulties sleeping since your mind is always racing with thoughts about events at work or a conversation with a coworker. To put these nagging thoughts at bay, it’s a good idea to give your mind a rest by engaging in activities such as meditation, a tech-free walk around the office, or just jotting down your day in a notebook before going to bed.
Spiritual Rest
The capability to connect beyond the physical and mental and feel a strong sense of belongingness, love, acceptance, and duty – which means connecting to something greater than yourself – is another form of rest you may require. Spiritual rest will re-energize your body and mind so that you can focus on the things you want to do with a feeling of purpose. If you are religious, this may imply that you practice your faith and how you demonstrate your devotion to God. If not, it may entail being involved in anything that offers you a sense of purpose, whether it’s via community or a job that makes you feel like what you’re doing counts.
Emotional Rest
We all need to express our emotions – hurt, rage, joy, or sorrow. It’s never a good idea to bottle everything up in the hope that it will go away if we repress it long enough. We all need to carve out time and space in our hectic days to allow ourselves to fully rest our emotions. Emotional rest also necessitates the bravery to be real, which includes being honest with your feelings and letting it all out, as well as sharing some difficult things that might otherwise go unspoken. You’ve been carrying a lot of emotional weight, and instead of trying to keep your emotions in control, we think it’s time to prioritise what you’re feeling and thinking over everything and everyone else.
Creative Rest
Creative rest does not imply that you need to put your creative mind to rest. Simply said, it means reawakening the sense of amazement and wonder that exists inside everyone of us in order to assist you in igniting some inspiration that may help you solve issues or develop ideas. It’s a simple outlet for when you’re absolutely overwhelmed and your creative juices have run dry, and you need some creative respite without having to create anything. A stroll in nature, such as a park, is a simple method to expose yourself to creative environments, or a trip through an art museum can stimulate some creativity and replenish your well of creativity.
Sensory Rest
Because of all the stimulus you receive during the day, from bright lights and phone screens to background noise and many conversations, your sensory system may have been overloaded. It can fully overwhelm you and produce sensory overload, leaving you angry and restless at the end of the day. Although you may not be aware of this sensory input, your body is. This may be mitigated by doing something as easy as shutting your eyes for a moment in the midst of the day, or entirely detoxifying from all devices at the end of the day. To truly recover and invigorate your body, treat yourself to some sensory relaxation from this overstimulating environment.
Source: Ideas.Ted
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