7 TYPES OF REST WE ALL NEED
WE ALL JUST EXPERIENCED THE HOLIDAYS. LOTS OF TIME OFF WORK. GATHERINGS AND SOCIALS.
BUT WHY IS IT THAT NOBODY COMES OUT OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON FEELING WELL-RESTED?
I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE DOG SH*T BY NEW YEARS.
BACK HOME IN CANADA, WE CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING IN OCTOBER, WHICH IS SO PREFERABLE IMO.
I FEEL LIKE I HAVE ROOM TO BREATHE BETWEEN THANKSGIVING SOCIALS/OBLIGATIONS/TRAVEL AND CHRISTMAS.
BUT DOWN HERE IN THE STATES? IT FEELS GO GO GO GO STARTING END OF NOVEMBER. AND IT DOESN’T JUST FEEL THAT WAY. IT TRULY IS THAT WAY.
COMPANY FOR A WEEK
TRAVEL OUT OF TOWN FOR THANKSGIVING
STOMACH FLU
VEGAS FOR A WEEK
SEA-VID ;)
CHRISTMAS WORK PARTIES
CHRISTMAS CANDY MAKING (THOUGH, I HUNG BACK AS I WAS TOO SICK)
HUSBAND’S BIRTHDAY
TRAVEL OUT OF TOWN FOR CHRISTMAS
KID HOME 2 WEEKS FROM DAYCARE
AND NOW SNOW DAYS AND CLOSED DAYCARES
LISTEN, I LOVE MY LITTLE FAM… BUT I NEEDED THEM TO GET TF OUT OF MY SPACE.
I’M A HIGHLY SENSITIVE PERSON. EMOTIONALLY, SOCIALLY, AND SENSORY. I THINK I HAVE SOME KIND OF PTSD FROM 5 TVS BEING ON LEVEL 60 GROWING UP ALL THE TIME WITH VERY VERY LOUD SPEAKING FRENCH FAMILY. IT ALWAYS FELT EXTREMELY CHAOTIC. I HAVE ZERO CAPACITY FOR MULTIPLE SOURCES OF SOUND.
DOESN’T PAIR TOO WELL WITH A 3 YEAR OLD VELCRO TODDLER. MOM MOM MUMMY MUM MA (ALWAYS THINK OF STEWIE FROM FAMILY GUY LOL). BUT SERIOUSLY. WE ARE OFFICIALLY IN THE “MOM LOOK ME!!!” ** DOES A 3 LEGGED DOWNWARD DOG.
FAKING THE IMPRESSED REACTION 7500X A DAY IS EXHAUSTING I DON’T CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS.
SO, ALAS. THIS IS MY FIRST WEEK BACK AT THE GYM IN 8+ WEEKS. OUCH.
BUT NONETHELESS, I’M DETERMINED TO REST IN ALL THE WAYS I’VE BEEN NEEDING FOR THESE 2 CRAZY MONTHS.
*NOTE: MOST PEOPLE THING ‘OH, I NEED REST. LET ME SLEEP MORE!’ BUT NEW SCIENCE IS SUGGESTING THAT THERE’S ACTUALLY NO SUCH THING AS [MAKING UP FOR LOST REST]. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, IS IF YOU ONLY SLEPT FOR 6H ON ONE NIGHT, YOU CANNOT “RESTORE” OR PILE UP YOUR BACK OF ZZZZ’S ON SATURDAY MORNING. THE SCIENCE ALSO SAYS IT’S BEST TO SLEEP AND WAKE AT THE SAME TIMES 7 DAYS A WEEK.
SO IF YOU’RE ACTUALLY IN NEED OF PHYSICAL REST, YOU’LL WANT TO ADOPT AN IMPROVED WIND DOWN REGIMEN, AND PRIORITIZE YOUR SLEEP HOURS ON A NIGHTLY BASIS. TRY TO REGULATE YOUR ZZZ TIME.
Here are the 7 rest types we all need & deserve:
physical rest
THIS FEELS LIKE HEAVINESS. MOVING SLOW. MUSCLE AND JOINT PAIN. INFLAMMATION. WEAKNESS.
TRY:
PASSIVE REST - REGULATED HIGH QUALITY SLEEP, DAYS OFF FROM THE GYM, HIGH QUALITY NUTRITION TO HELP YOUR MUSCLES FEED + THRIVE
PAIRED WITH SOME ACTIVE REST - RESTORATIVE YOGA, MASSAGE THERAPY, WALKS, STRETCHING
mental rest
THIS FEELS LIKE SENSITIVITY. BRAIN FOG. ATTENTION DEFICIT. AGITATION. FRUSTRATION. OVERWHELM.
TRY: SELF CARE PRACTICES, COMING BACK TO YOURSELF BY DOING THINGS YOU LOVE, PAUSING THE OBSESSIVE NEED TO HEAL / FIX / CORRECT, GRACE AND ACCEPTANCE FOR WHERE YOU CURRENTLY ARE
emotional rest
THIS FEELS LIKE DEPRESSION. ANXIETY. A ROLLERCOASTER. EXCESSIVE CRYING. DISSOCIATION. BLAME/DIRECTED ANGER.
TRY: SETTING + ENFORCING BOUNDARIES THAT KEEP YOU FEELING LOVED AND SAFE, CLEAR COMMUNICATION REGARDING NEEDS (AND WHEN THEY’RE NOT BEING MET), LAYING OUT EXPECTATIONS TO THOSE IN YOUR LIFE, CUTTING PEOPLE OUT THAT DON’T SERVE YOU WELL
social rest
THIS FEELS LIKE OBLIGATORY YESSES TO CALENDAR INVITES. PUTTING ON THE FAKE SMILE. DREADFUL SMALL TALK. DREAMING ABOUT BEING HOME IN YOUR PJS WHEN YOU’RE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE.
TRY: SAYING NO, SCHEDULING ALONE TIME, TELLING PEOPLE YOUR CUP IS EMPTY, SCHEDULING SOCIALS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MONTH SO YOU CAN PREPARE YOURSELF BEFORE/AFTER TO AVOID BURNOUT
creative rest
FEELS LIKE WRITERS BLOCK. FEELS FORCED. HYPER CRITICAL OF WHATEVER YOU PRODUCE. BLEHHH. NO LONGER FUN.
TRY: SPENDING TIME OUTSIDE, AWAY FROM COMPARISON, AWAY FROM PRODUCING, AWAY FROM CREATING AND JUST APPRECIATE MOTHER NATURE’S BEAUTY FOR ALL THAT SHE HAS CREATED, PUT IT TO COMPLETE REST AND DO SOMETHING SO UNRELATED YOU CAN FEEL FREE FROM THE PRESSURE TO PRODUCE
sensory rest
THIS FEELS LIKE IRRITATION. AGITATION. LASHING OUT. LACK OF FOCUS. INABILITY TO FUNCTION. WANTING TO COVER YOUR EARS / CLOSE YOUR EYES.
TRY: PUTTING DOWN YOUR PHONE, SHUTTING YOUR LAPTOP, TV OFF, QUIET TIME, HYPNOTIC AUDIO THROUGH NOISE CANCELING HEADPHONES, FOCUS ON BREATH AND BODY SENSATIONS
spiritual rest
FEELS LIKE HOPELESSNESS. DISCONNECT. UNCERTAINTY. FEAR. PURPOSELESS. DEPRESSION.
TRY: MEDITATION, CONNECTING WITH THE BIGGER EXISTENCE OF LIFE, GAINING PERSPECTIVE BY CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY, FIND WAYS TO RESTORE SENSE OF HOPE, FIND A CHURCH OR SUPPORT GROUP WITH PEOPLE WHO VIEW LIFE SIMILAR TO YOU (OR MAYBE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!)
IT’S IMPORTANT TO FIGURE OUT WHICH TYPE OF REST YOU’RE NEEDING AT THIS TIME.
LEANING INTO THE WRONG TYPE OF REST COULD CHANGE NOTHING, OR EVEN MAKE THINGS WORSE.
