Sleep and rest are not the same thing, though we all confuse the terms. The result of this mistake is a culture of high-performing but chronically tired and burnt-out individuals. We suffer from a lack of rest because we do not understand its real strength. A proper recharge of the batteries requires focusing on the following seven key areas of your life.
Physical rest
This can be passive or active. Passive physical rest includes sleep and taking a nap, while active physical rest means regenerative activities such as yoga, stretching and massage therapies that help improve circulation and flexibility.
Mental rest
Do you start work with a huge cup of coffee on your desk? Are you irritable and forgetful and do you have a hard time concentrating on your work? When you lie down at night, is it difficult for you to turn off your brain which is full of the tasks and conversations of the day? Do you wake up feeling like you have never even been to sleep? Then you have a deficit of mental rest.
Schedule short breaks every two hours throughout the working day. These breaks might remind you to slow down. You could also leave a notebook by the bed to record any annoying thoughts that will not allow you to sleep, and then push them out of your mind.
Sensory rest
Bright computer screen lights, background noise or conversational sounds can stun our senses. This can easily be countered by closing your eyes for a minute in the middle of the day, or consciously disconnecting from all electronic devices at the end of the day and doing something different. Deliberate moments of sensory deprivation can begin to repair the damage caused by an overly stimulating world.
Creative rest
This type of rest is especially important for anyone who has to solve problems or come up with new ideas. Creative rest arouses a sense of wonder and awe in each of us. Go and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors in the countryside, a park or just your own garden.
Creative relaxation also includes the ability to enjoy art. Turn your workspace into a place of inspiration by displaying pictures of places you love and works of art that address you. You can't spend 40 hours a week staring at empty or messy surroundings and expect to feel passionate about anything, let alone come up with innovative ideas.
Emotional rest
Now let's consider someone else, such as a close friend. This is the person you call with a request for kindness, because even if they do not want to do something, you know they will say a reluctant "yes" rather than an honest "no." But when this person is alone, they feel underappreciated and abused. They need emotional rest, which means having time and space freely to express their feelings at the expense of others. Emotional rest also requires the courage to be authentic.
Social rest
If you need emotional rest yourself, you probably also lack social rest. This happens when you cannot distinguish between relationships that charge you and those that exhaust you. If you want to experience more social relaxation, surround yourself with positive and supportive people.
Spiritual rest
Spiritual rest is the ability to connect beyond the physical and the mental and feel a deep sense of belonging, love, acceptance and purpose. To achieve this, become involved in something bigger than yourself. Add meditation to your daily routine or join a community.
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