The 7 Types of Rest
Adapted from Saundra Dalton-Smith MD and TED
“Have you ever tried to fix an ongoing lack of energy by getting more sleep — only to do so and still feel exhausted?”
Dr. Dalton-Smith posed this question in her TEDx Atlanta talk.
She goes on to explain what may be a secret to some of us: “Sleep and rest are not the same thing, although many of us incorrectly confuse the two.”
Ever show up to the crag, boulders or gym and just… not feel it? This happened to me yesterday, and it was a bit confusing at first. The truth is, not all fatigue is sleep related, and sometimes we have to take a deeper look to understand our wellness and thriving.
According to Dr. Dalton-Smith, we can rest in seven key areas of your life.
The first type of rest we need is physical rest, which can be passive or active. Passive physical rest includes sleeping and napping, while active physical rest includes restorative activities such as stretching, yoga, using physio tools like a foam roller or tennis ball, or anything else that can smooth and soothe our physical bodies after we work them hard.
The second type of rest is mental rest. Find that you get tired of focusing while youre climbing? I definitely do, its an area of endurance I am working to build. In the meantime, I need to manage my mental energy by pushing it, and allowing it to recuperate.
Find yourself drinking lots of caffeine during the day, or out climbing to stay engaged? Get cranky or feel a brain fog descend? It may be indicative of a mental fatigue that needs attention in how you approach your climbing OR non-climbing days.
“The good news is you don’t have to quit your job or go on vacation to fix this. Schedule short breaks to occur every two hours throughout your workday; these breaks can remind you to slow down. You might also keep a notepad by the bed to jot down any nagging thoughts that would keep you awake.”
The third type of rest we need is sensory rest. When live lives of bright lights, computer screens, background noise and multiple conversations, This can overwhelm our senses and also leave us feeling drained and lacking motivation. If eyes are tired before you want to head out for a gym session, for example, this fatigue “can be countered by doing something as simple as closing your eyes for a minute in the middle of the day, as well as by intentionally unplugging from electronics at the end of every day. Intentional moments of sensory deprivation can begin to undo the damage inflicted by the over-stimulating world.”
The fourth type of rest is creative rest. This type of rest is especially important for when we are trying a new, difficult route, and working hard to figure out the beta. Letting our creativity rest after such exertion, “reawakens the awe and wonder inside each of us.” Allowing yourself to take in the beauty of the natural landscapes around you, the micro beauty of the rock in front of you, or the beauty of the movement is a great way to rest our creativity for a moment and simply receive.
“The fifth type of rest is emotional rest, which means having the time and space to freely express your feelings and cut back on people pleasing. Emotional rest also requires the courage to be authentic. An emotionally rested person can answer the question “How are you today?” with a truthful “I’m not okay” — and then go on to share some hard things that otherwise go unsaid.” An emotionally rested climber is able to be flexible and gracious when the outcomes don’t come out like they had hoped, or when they encounter the emotions and reactions of others.
If you’re in need of emotional rest, you probably have a social rest deficit too. We create the culture we live in, climbing included. Though there may be tendencies around us, we get to decide who we engage with and how, based on how they impact us. We are undeniably social creatures, and maintaining the social health of our climbing partnerships is crucial to maintaining the health of our relationship with climbing.
“The final type of rest is spiritual rest, which is the ability to connect beyond the physical and mental and feel a deep sense of belonging, love, acceptance and purpose. To receive this, engage in something greater than yourself and add prayer, meditation or community involvement to your daily routine.” As a climber, for example, we can revive our spirit by holding space for awe and wonder at the opportunity to experience rock and the outdoor world in such a special way.
As you can see, sleep alone can’t restore us to the point we feel rested. So it’s time for us to begin focusing on getting the right type of rest we need.
Editor’s note: Fatigue can also be associated with numerous health problems, so please get checked out by your physician if it persists.
To learn more about Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith and her work, visit her website. This post was adapted from her TEDxAtlanta Talk. Watch it here.