Unpacking the Seven Dimensions of True Rest
Welcome to Rest is Not a Reward, a four-part blog series that explores the vital importance of rest for a balanced life.
Cloud Study (Early Evening). Simon Denis, ca. 1786–1806. Courtesy the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
True restoration goes far beyond just sleep; understanding the seven types of rest can unlock a deeper level of well-being.
For too long, we've equated rest solely with sleep. While crucial, sleep is just one piece of the restorative puzzle. My own journey, prompted by navigating the demanding world of real estate, motherhood, and even high-functioning anxiety, has illuminated the profound importance of understanding the different kinds of rest we need.
Inspired by Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith's work, I discovered that there are actually seven distinct types of rest, each addressing a unique area of depletion. For someone like me, who often scores low in areas like mental and creative rest, simply getting eight hours of sleep wasn't enough.
These seven dimensions include social rest, which involves nurturing interactions that uplift rather than drain you; creative rest, about allowing yourself to appreciate beauty and engage in activities that spark joy; sensory rest, crucial in our hyper-stimulated world, which means intentionally disengaging from screens and noise; and spiritual rest, connecting with something larger than yourself through community, meditation, or prayer.
Then there's emotional rest, which is about creating space to authentically express your feelings without judgment; mental rest, involving quieting the mental chatter through mindfulness and taking short breaks throughout the day; and finally, physical rest, which encompasses both sleep and gentle movement. Recognizing which areas we are most deficient in allows us to be more intentional in our rest practices, ensuring we're truly replenishing what's been used.
Rest is Not a Reward explores the vital importance of rest for a balanced life, moving beyond the hustle culture's glorification of busyness. Dee Greene Hill shares her personal journey and insights, emphasizing that rest is a necessity, not a luxury. The series unpacks the seven distinct types of rest beyond just sleep and reframes rest as a strategic imperative for enhanced productivity and well-being.
