The 7 Types of Rest, Part 1: Get Refreshed with Online Therapy Maryland

Me too, buddy.  Me too. 

Anyone else feeling incredibly tired lately? Tired in that way that more sleep doesn’t seem to fix? Or is that just me? From what I see from my clients, in-person or through online therapy in Maryland, I don’t think it’s just me.

The blog here has been quiet lately because I’ve been trying to figure out where all my energy has gone and how to try and build it back. I’m taking my iron supplements and vitamins and carefully protecting my 8 hours of sleep each night. I’ve been trying to be patient, to acknowledge that there is fair bit on my plate at home and work these days, to rest. I’ve let myself watch a good amount of bad television. Still tired.

Help! Does anyone have a map?

There are many paths to rest.  Hammocks optional. 

After all the front line tactics and a bit of time haven’t moved the needle much on that pervasive tiredness, I started going down the rest research rabbit hole. I know that sounds like it’s not helpful for becoming more rested, but I have long been of the opinion that smart people everywhere have researched all the things and have shared that information with those who seek it out. (Haven’t been proved wrong on this one yet) Plus modern technology means all that information can be found at my fingertips, online, from the comfort of my own home, saving my trips to the library for picking up novels to enjoy just for fun.

Cats: absolute legends of physical rest.  No wonder they were worshipped. 

My journey down the rest research rabbit hole struck gold when I came across Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith’s work on The Seven Types of Rest. It feels like I’m a bit late to the party in hearing about this just now, but at my age I am frequently behind the trends and new perspectives and I’m just glad to get the information eventually. In case you haven’t heard about this work either, let me pass along some wisdom I’ve gleaned.

So, what comes to mind when you think of the word “rest”? Is it a nap in a hammock? A deep nine hours of sleep that allows you to wake without an alarm? Something else? Those are common ideas about rest but a pretty narrow view of it. In fact, that is pretty much just one half of only the first of seven kinds of rest! Wait, what? So, what else is there? Good question.

The Seven Types of rest WIth Your Online Maryland Therapist

As you probably picked up in the earlier paragraph, Dr. Dalton-Smith proposes that there are 7 different kinds of rest. And within those seven categories there can be subcategories too! To be honest, at first I was more tired just thinking about the idea that there were more categories of rest to consider. But I’ve come to appreciate the idea of having a wider menu—thinking of this as varied options rather than another impossible balancing act that I will be perpetually doomed to fail.

The seven types of rest that she lays out are:

• Physical rest

• Mental rest

• Sensory rest

• Emotional rest

• Social rest

• Creative rest

• Spiritual rest

Physical rest

Great news! I am good at at least half of this one. Physical rest includes passive forms of physical rest—like that nap in a hammock or getting enough sleep every night—and active forms of physical rest—think stretching, massage, yoga and other things that support circulation and mobility. Even though the quality of my sleep has started to deteriorate a bit with age, I have remained the most fierce guardian of my sleep hours. I can be in the middle of the most action-packed movie and won’t even hesitate to turn it off for the night when my bedtime comes. This is part of what has been a bit maddening—I’m really diligent about getting that passive physical rest regularly but was still not feeling rested.

****Small side note here**** If you are actually really good about getting a good and consistent amount of sleep and are still not feeling rested, it’s a good idea to first check with your physician. Sleep apnea is a big deal that has all kinds of serious health complications. Plus there are several other quick checks that are a good idea—iron, thyroid, illnesses, etc. If any of these are the reason that you are exhausted, despite sleeping a good amount, none of these other awesome strategies are going to solve the issue. Get the medical part cleared up first and then move on to the whole list of options for rest after that.

Ok, back to physical rest. In addition to the passive kind, there’s also active physical rest. This can include stretching, yoga, massage, qi gong—all kinds of restorative things that keep your circulation going. Good to know! I really like this category of rest and noticed that I’ve been getting less of it than I actually need. I’ve been grumpy lately because I need to do some physical therapy for my neck. I’m grumpy that I have to do it and grumpy about adding one more thing into my week. But this list gave me an opportunity for a reframe about it. If I can embrace the exercises I need to do multiple times each day as a form of active rest, that can help me get multiple benefits out of the time I’m investing. Can I use that time to focus on my breathing and the stretching, instead of watching tv or thinking about the other things I could be doing? Seems like a reasonable thing to try. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Stay tuned for more ways to rest

If you are interested in feeling more rested, come on back to the blog for future posts as I make my way through the other six types of rest and work on finding a balance that works for me. In the meantime, is there a way for you to work on your physical rest—both passive and active? Do you need to be better at going to bed at a decent hour? Would it help to incorporate some active physical rest into your day to help your body and mind feel better? Is a conversation with your physician a good idea at this time? I hope that your efforts help you feel more rested and refreshed.

A free consultation For ONline Therapy in Maryland

If you are looking for support, please reach out. I see folks for therapy in College Park, MD and offer online therapy in Maryland. You can explore more information about my services throughout the website. Feel free to contact me for a free 15-minute phone consultation.