We all talk about rest and relaxation, and the importance of these things, but we never really pay attention to how much we need it until our bodies literally crash. About two years ago, I was hospitalized, and diagnosed with a condition called gastritis (in simple terms, the inflammation of my stomach lining) and the cause of this was stress. At the time, I was going through a lot of stress, and as a result kept falling sick, but I self medicated and brushed it off. I never really took time to REALLY listen to my body, and understand what I needed, understand the type of rest I needed. Life was throwing a lot at me, and I just continued to duck, sometimes take the hits, and then bury myself in work. I needed rest, lots of it, but I didn’t know what type of rest I needed. So I did some reading, and here are six types of rest (take some time to listen and think about which one you need, and take it).

1. Physical Rest

We need high-quality sleep. But physical rest also includes active things like yoga, stretching, using a foam roller, getting a massage, and making sure that the ergonomics of your work station are not toxic to your body. Signs that you have an active physical rest deficit could be body aches and pain. It could be swelling in your legs and feet after sitting at your desk for long periods of time; it could be spasms in your back.

2. Spiritual Rest

One’s spiritual rest will depend on their belief system, it looks different for all of us, but it's something we all need. How do you know that you need it? For me it’s usually when I start struggling to find meaning and purpose in things like my work, when I start getting too invested in and easily swayed, and ‘influenced’ by things I see around the internet. This is usually a sign that I need to take some time to ground, and re-centre myself.

3. Mental Rest

Have you ever found yourself feeling tired, and then you get home and you still can’t seem to sleep because your mind is racing? Or you go into a grocery store and can’t even remember why you’re there? Well, your mind might be tired, and you might want to try setting time to wind down, or slot in some meditation every now and then, something light on the mind to help clear it and help you rest.

4. Social Rest

You know that rejuvenated feeling you get after spending time with someone ‘life-giving’, someone who fuels you, and fills you? When last did you feel that after an interaction with someone, or the people you spend most your time with? How often do you spend time with people that make you feel like that? Make some time today to spend time with those people, or even with yourself - just to recharge. Every now and then, spend some time away from people that make you feel like saying ‘Can I just get a moment to myself’, and when you do feel like that make it a point to take that moment.

5. Emotional Rest

Emotional rest refers to the rest we experience when we allow ourselves to be real and authentic in how we share our feelings with our loved ones. Am I the only one who sometimes carries quite a bit of emotional labor privately? Keeping my feelings to myself because I don’t want the next person to know that I am worrying, hurt or tired, yup well it always leaves me even more tired. If you are like me, this is a reminder that you don’t always have to keep your feelings and emotions ‘in-check’, let them be exposed, release them and express them effectively. I usually set up some time to call a friend, talk to my mom or a mentor, someone who will listen and also be honest with me about things.

6. Creative Rest

How do you know that you need creative rest? when you have a hard time being innovative. When you have a hard time brainstorming, when problem-solving is difficult for you. Creativity is more than just art; it’s any type of innovation, and most of us tend to use up a lot of this energy because we don’t even see ourselves creating, so we don’t notice when we need to take some time to pour back into that energy. Every now and then, take some time to walk in nature, watch the sunset, go to the gallery, a show, a concert, any form of art or innovative space that might let your mind breathe.

I hate hospitals, and basically burning out, so every chance and opportunity I get? I will try to rest. It doesn’t have to be a six months sabbatical or three months getaway, but those little brunches, calls, Sundays of sleeping in, doing nothing and just existing, taking some time for restoration is always a must, at least I try to.