Have you ever felt so exhausted that all you needed was a good night’s sleep?
Everyone has.
But have you ever STILL felt exhausted, even after plenty of shut-eye? We wrongly think that “rest” means “sleep,” when in fact, there’s more to it than that. So says Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, author of “Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity.”
She says humans need seven kinds of rest:
- In addition to sleeping enough, take breaks throughout the day with deep breathing or yoga.
- You’re working too hard. You can’t focus. Well, unplug from your screens and meditate, or get away from other stresses on your brain.
- Are you spending too much time on idle chatter with strangers? Or maybe it’s been too long since a heart-to-heart with a true-blue friend.
- We all use creative juices, even if we don’t think of ourselves as particularly creative. Replenish with inspiration from art, books, and other sources.
- Talk to someone regularly about your feelings – friend, therapist, etc.
- This could mean going to worship services more, but it also might mean you need to examine your purpose or volunteer to help others.
- Turn off your phones, computers, and other gadgets. Focus on real-life relationships, fresh air, and a nice walk, instead.
Try this: Turn your phone off an hour before bedtime, and don’t keep it near the bed.
Holly Kouvo is a personal trainer, functional aging specialist, senior fitness specialist, brain health trainer, writer, and speaker.