The Importance of Rest and the Seven Types of Rest

Rest is crucial for high-performing individuals, who often equate productivity with expending all their energy. However, this mentality leads to burnout. Dr. Sandra Dalton Smith, an internal medicine physician, author, and speaker, discusses the seven types of rest that individuals need: physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, social, sensory, and creative rest. Each type of rest is essential for maintaining well-being. For example, physical rest involves not only sleeping and napping but also active methods like yoga and leisure walks. Mental rest is achieved by quieting the mind through mindfulness activities. Emotional rest allows individuals to express feelings without judgement or having to put on a facade. Social rest involves balancing relationships that both drain and replenish social energy. Sensory rest involves being mindful of the sensory inputs in one's environment and finding ways to manage them, such as dimming screens or finding moments of sensory reprieve throughout the day. By incorporating these types of rest into their lives, individuals can avoid burnout and be their most excellent selves.