To stop being active for a while just to relax and swing back to work is called rest. It is vital for better mental health, increased concentration and memory, a healthier immune system, reduced stress, improved mood and even a better metabolism. 

According to Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, M.D., sleep isn’t the only kind of rest we need.  She asserts that there are different types of rest that can’t be fulfilled just by sleeping. As she puts it, “Rest is the most misjudged, chemical-free, safe, and effective alternative therapy available to us.” It’s a false impression that rest is purely physical. Rest is physical. But it is more than that. It is mental, emotional, and spiritual.

We are used to push through our exhaustion to meet our career, personal, home assignments, our goals and ambitions in life. Like the muscles in our body, our mind becomes fatigued after extreme efforts. We need to top up energies after mental and physical efforts. Our brain isn’t designed to be endlessly productive. In fact, the brain works efficiently between periods of focus and unfocused activities. That’s because, during periods of rest, play, and relaxation, the brain can consolidate memories, crystallize learning, and work on solving problems.

Rest is not an optional leftover activity. Work and rest are collaborators. They are like different parts of a fluctuation. We can’t have the high without the low. The better we rest , the better we work. Rest is NOT an optional activity.

There are seven types of rest. Sleep is one of the types.

Creative rest

When we are involved in creativity, we feel that we are living more fully than  the rest of life.  Psychologist Cathy Malchiodi explains that art and the creative process improves not only our quality of life, but is also effective in reducing pain, fatigue, and stress, and increasing cognitive abilities and emotional well-being. Creativity gives us the ‘Aha’ moment which is so refreshing.  Many times, when we don’t get those creative ideas, we feel creatively drained. Creativity often manifests in frequent but short bursts due to several interconnected psychological, neurological, and environmental factors. Some ideas flash in mind, if don’t capture them immediately, they are gone.

Mental rest

Mental rest is a state of relaxation and mental calmness that allows the mind to unwind and recover from mental exertion. It involves taking a break from mental activities that require cognitive energy or concentration that allows the mind to rest and rejuvenate. It is feeling of calmness inside. When we are mentally drained, we feel like a “brain fog” which makes us rework. Every task takes twice as much effort to complete. Mental rest allows to disconnect from thinking demands and allows brain to slip into that default mode network. For people in information-driven work or who spend a lot of time on the computer, this kind of rest can be especially helpful.

Physical rest

Visiting a spa for a good body massage is like a luxury. Passive rest can include napping or sleeping. Active physical rest might be engaging in activities that we find  recuperative, such as getting a massage, yoga, stretching, walking, running etc. These examples of active physical rest also help improve flexibility and blood circulation  that makes us feel better in our body. Because many of us spend so much time seated at our desks, another form of physical rest falling somewhere between active and passive.  Walking few steps after every half an hour is good, drinking a glass of water every half an hour hydrates mind and body. When we experience a shortage in physical rest, we notice body aches and pains.

Social rest

Spending some time in solitude, using the ‘me time’ always boosts energy. All of us have a variety of relationships in our lives which consists of family members, coworkers, friends, and acquaintances. Managing our energy is about finding time for ourselves. Always to be surrounded by people is draining. Socialization is necessary but not a ‘must’. Have guts to say ‘no’ if  you’re feeling exhausted, turn down an invitation or two and recharge at home. Reduce your hangouts.

Emotional Rest

Emotional rest is the ability to express our authentic self, being open about our thoughts and feelings without modifying them to make others happier. In other words, it is the rest we experience when we don’t hide a part of ourselves from others. Why should we hide a part of ourselves? When we are irritated, we can just tell people that we need to be left alone. When we get emotionally drained, the effects tend to quickly spill over into other areas of our lives. We have a hard time staying focused and productive when we’re not at our emotional best. Emotional rest requires setting effective boundaries, deciding whom to involve and whom not to in our emotional bonding. We must take “yes” and “no” breaks. Take work which we can manage effectively. We are not here to please everyone. We must develop the aptitude to manage our emotions skilfully.

Sensory rest

Usage of too much electronic gadgets like mobile, tablet, personal computer, TV, tape recorder creates loud noises, too much of information can’t be handled by brain. Too much of honking on roads, traffic jams, fire alarms create noise pollution. Bright/flickering lights, such as strobe or fluorescent lights are bad for eyes and brain. Too much of crowded places, like malls or concerts are tyring after some time. Multiple loud conversations occurring in the same space at the same time, too much screen time harms our sensory system. When we receive too many messages, notifications and phone calls we feel the anxiety. It is best to go for digital detox occasionally. Eating and drinking too much of spicy or sweet junk food and drinks spoils the digestive system. Human beings have five senses: sight (eyes), hearing (ears), taste (tongue), smell (nose), and touch (sensory). They all need rest. 

Spiritual rest

Spirituality helps us to  rest our mind and body both. If anything is constant in world it is only change which can either be positive or negative. With change occasionally uncertainties come. Spirituality gives the power of the unconditional surrender unto the Almighty. In my opinion it is a quality of true Karma Yogi. When we feel disconnected from the rest of the world, it can leave us feeling disconnected which can be both positive and negative. Some people feel insecure with disconnection. 

Spirituality is the ability to recognize that there is intelligence beyond our five senses. There is universal power that creates and governs everything within and beyond the worlds we know, and that power is omnipresent. We can surrender to this supreme intelligence through our awareness. We call this universal power by different names as per our religious faith. Spirituality makes things easier for us to go through the life’s journey with all its ups and downs. It makes our lives happier.

Conclusion

Rest is a state of physical, emotional, and mental relaxation that allows our bodies and minds to recover from the stress of daily life. It is essential for our overall health and well-being, and it is just as important as diet and exercise.

So when you have anger take a pause to resolve the anger within, it is destructive to your mental state. When you have doubt, do not rush; take a pause to think pros and cons. When you are tired, take a pause to refresh. If it is physical tiredness, it can be tackled by resting but it’s the mental tiredness that impacts both body and mind. When you are stressed, pause. The reasons for stress are different for everyone: students stress about studies, businessmen about profits, a person in job about performance, a housewife about house management, a sick person about sickness and after effects. Stress needs a longer pause to resolve the inner wound. And, even when then things are fine learn to take a pause. We take our strength for granted, our inner strength is so important, it should never be overlooked.

Pausing increases productivity, it does it miraculously. We feel fresh; we feel vital and beam with confidence after a good pause. Listen to the whispers of the soul, when it asks for a pause, take a pause. Sometimes you need to stop in order to get ahead. Pause to ask yourself what, how, when, whom, and why you are doing things; these questions can be tell exactly what you need in order to continue your progress. Other times, you may simply need a break to recharge and prevent exhaustion. If that occurs, you are going to spend a lot more time recovering than if you had taken a break in the first place.

So whenever you lag behind, press the pause button. If you are all times working on yesterday’s work, you will never be able to give time to today’s work, it’s time to take a pause and catch up. If you are experiencing monotony and feel your quality of work is reducing, pause.

Stephen Covey says in his book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” that sharpening the saw is an ongoing process of personal change. You need to define your own strengths and limits in life. We all have busy lifestyles; therefore it’s no surprise we have to insert a pause often to sharpen the saw. Time Management is the most required practice; we must make it part of our life. Our future success depends on how refreshed we feel to take up personal and professional responsibilities.

Learn to enjoy life and time with others: attend those functions where you can catch up with your friends.  We cannot force quality time with our loved ones until we really pause mentally and physically. Learn to pause to enjoy the time together. Put other things on hold while you spend time with your family. Most important take a pause before it becomes inevitable.