How Do the 7 Types of Rest Help You Maintain Vitality?

Woman relaxing on a couch, experiencing rest

How Do the 7 Types of Rest Help You Maintain Vitality?

Reading time: 7 minutes

The 7 types of rest are not extravagances; rather, they are necessary to sustain our daily energy. We become less focused and more easily distracted when we are stressed or tired. Things we used to enjoy become even less enjoyable. Our souls, minds, and bodies cry out for sleep. This is the second in a series of articles on the most important factors that affect our vitality. It discusses how the 7 types of rest, approached holistically, maintain a high level of vital energy.

Imagine a board where there are several different types of rest you can choose, such as taking a little stroll in the park and being enveloped in the sounds of birdsong and the scent of flowers; taking a hot bath and letting the water’s gentle touch soothe away all your cares; or engaging in a quiet meditation where all you have to do is listen to your own breath. Engaging in these wide-ranging activities can help you refuel and maintain your serenity, vitality, and vibrancy even on hectic days.

As we will see, there are many ways to rest, and they are all equally important to living a happy and fulfilled life.

TOP TIP

The 7 Types of Rest – The Gateway to High Vitality and Zest for Life

Watch this TED Talk by psychologist Saundra Dalton-Smith, author of the award-winning book “Sacred Rest,” about the 7 types of rest.

When you see a decline in your life energy in any of the seven areas of your life (physical, mental, emotional, sensory, social, spiritual, creative), you need to take a break to ensure that each energy reserve is fully recharged.

And why is this important? Because only in this state can you actively pursue your goals, realize your visions, create, and thus live your everyday life creatively and to the fullest.

To do this, you need to take the following steps:

  • Self-examination: Assess what takes the most energy out of you during the day.
  • Methods: Get to know the ways and means of recharging in the seven areas.
  • Focused action: Learning how to rest well means recharging what you need, when you need it.

Notice which of the following different types of rest you most need most at the moment and work toward getting it so that your energy level increases more quickly. You can keep a journal in which you write down your observations at the end of each day about how your activities have affected your energy levels.

The Egely Wheel, which provides a scale from 1 to 24 to measure how much energy a particular activity takes from you, significantly simplifies this work. The Vitality Indicator is a more compact and easily portable version of the Life Energy Meter, ideal for quickly assessing your energy levels when you have some free time away from home.

Dr. George Egely
Hungarian Engineer / Inventor
(1950 – )
The idea behind measuring vitality is that it can help people to be healthier, more competitive, and more powerful if they can find the lifestyle and diet that works best for them. This will result in a measurable increase in vitality.

The 7 Types of Rest: A Detaild Guide

Infographic depicting the 7 Types of Rest with activities such as exercise, mindfulness, hugging, digital detox, and painting to enhance well-being
Explore the diverse ways to rest with our infographic on the 7 Types of Rest, highlighting activities that contribute to your physical, mental, and emotional health.

1. How to Rest Physically

Physical fatigue is easy to recognize by its telltale signs. You feel like you could fall asleep at any time, your feet are dragging, and your eyes are constantly itching to close. There are two types of physical rest: active and passive. Active rest is similar to exercise, while passive rest is similar to sleep.

You can think of your body as a smart device that requires regular recharges to perform optimally. A good night’s sleep, some deep breathing exercises, a massage, some stretching, and even a workout program will help you perform better, have more energy, and stay focused for the next few days.

2. How to Rest Mentally

You have to acknowledge that you need a break from your thoughts from time to time. In the modern world, where we are constantly bombarded with information and expected to be ready at all times, it is easy to become mentally exhausted.

Physically, you may feel great, but mentally, you are exhausted, which can lead to impatience, poor concentration, memory loss, and a feeling of being overwhelmed by tasks and deadlines.

To relieve stress and give your brain a break from constant thinking and problem-solving, you need to take regular breaks. Depending on what you’re into, you can do this through things like coloring, writing, puzzles, short walks, breathing exercises, repeating affirmations and meditation – anything that calms your mind.

3. How to Rest Emotionally

Your emotional needs may not be met if you experience feelings of loneliness, frustration, or depression. Similarly, you can get agitated, irritated, or moody when you’re tired.

Expressing your feelings to someone, putting them in writing, or practicing saying no are frequently the best ways to achieve emotional relief. It might also be beneficial to be aware of your needs and desires and to develop your EQ.

Instead of just doing what you feel is right, try to do what you love and what you want to do. Being able to express our emotions freely and accept our thoughts and feelings in an authentic way is the key to emotional replenishment.

4. How to Rest Creatively

Being creative is a superpower that can be applied to every aspect of your life. You can use it to plan, communicate, solve problems, make decisions, or just express yourself. If you’re struggling, it’s a sign that it’s time to give your creative energies a boost.

Creative hobbies (such as writing, sewing, painting, and drawing) can help you escape your daily routine and experience the satisfaction of producing something. Connecting with, reading, and listening to people who inspire you can also be beneficial.

The ability of these creative pursuits to induce a meditative state can reduce stress levels and open your mind to new ideas by stimulating the formation of new neural connections.

5. How to Rest Your Senses

In today’s environment, we are constantly exposed to a wide range of stimuli, including emails, notifications, traffic noise, and commercials. Our world seems to consist of constant background noise, which can increase the production of stress hormones and cause fatigue in our daily lives.

The only aspect of sensory rest is not just silence, but rather a way to secure some me time. Turn off your electronics, take a nap, and allow your mind to absorb the day’s experiences. Sometimes it’s best to just shut down and let the world go on without us. Your nervous system will appreciate it.

6. How to Rest Spiritually

If you feel like you’re just floating through life, out of control, disoriented, and unable to find meaning or purpose in the mundane things that happen, you may be experiencing spiritual fatigue.

The secret to finding inner peace and tranquility is spirituality. Try to focus on the bigger picture, not just on yourself. You can find spiritual guidance and comfort in a number of ways: by reading spiritual materials such as scripture, by prayer, or by joining groups that have goals greater than their own particular interests.

7. How to Rest Socially

As social beings, we need human connection to replenish our emotional and mental reserves.The rule is that it is the quality, not the quantity, of who you spend your time with that matters. Consider the impact that toxic relationships and loneliness can have on your well-being and sense of self.

If meetings, conversations, and activities are overwhelming, take a break and recharge your social energy. You have two options: go somewhere or retreat to the solitude of your home. Ask yourself who in your life helps you feel renewed after spending time with them.

7 Types of Rest Beyond Sleep

So what do you do when everything is a mess? Most importantly, it’s time to realize that you need a break. Not just sleep, but proper rest. Although sleep is essential as a nighttime recharging station, many of us wake up in the morning feeling like we’ve never been to bed, and that’s where the art of rest comes in.

Illustrated montage of five restful activities including reading in a café, meditating in a park, walking on a beach, napping in a hammock, and stretching in a yoga studio, emphasizing the importance of daily rest.
Variety in Rest: Explore various ways to recharge through these artistically depicted restful activities, enhancing your daily vitality and well-being.

All you need to do is take care of the 7 very important areas of your life: the physical, the mental, the emotional, the sensory, the spiritual, the social, and the creative.

You can imagine the following: On long trips, you stop to stretch your legs, grab a bite to eat, hydrate, and use the restroom. Your journey through life should be no different. So learn to take meaningful breaks in your regular life, just as you would on a trip, and watch how these small adjustments can greatly improve your vitality!

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