Hello Reader,
In 2014, I enrolled in Coaching for Transformation, a year-long certification program that transformed not only how I support my clients but also how I approach my own well-being.
At the time, my consulting work focused heavily on strategy, but I realized that you can’t train or strategize your way out of someone’s hurt feelings, underdeveloped emotional intelligence, or the sometimes inhumane ways of the modern-day workplace.
I learned (was reminded) we need repair-based medicines that centers people even when the work is targeted at the organizational ecosystem.
Organizations are, afterall, collectives of people bound together by shared practices and legislated by policies and norms. We often forget about the people part.
Coaching equipped me with the knowledge and skills to build human connection into the core of my work. And it gave me repair-based medicines that reminded me of our intrinsic value outside of our productivity.
And my coach reminded me of the importance of intentional rest. And then made me go rest!
We Tie Our Worth To Our Productivity
I saw after 2 decades in the workforce, even 8 years running my own business, how much I had subconsciously tied my worth to my productivity—a challenge I’ve since seen in many of the leaders I advise.
There's a long history in the United States and other colonized nations for why we do this, but we do it nevertheless.
The antidote? Disconnect our self-worth from what we produce.
And as a practice, I find, we have to intentionally create space for rest in our daily, weekly, and annual schedules.
This is often a prescription I deliver to my clients.
My Journey to Intentional Rest- All 7 Types!
In winter 2014, after many excuses of why I could never do it, I began what has now become 10 years of intentional rest practice.
After fierce and loving coaching from my coach, Johnny, it started with a 7-week rest sabbatical in Guanajuato Mexico that December.
And I couldn't even begin to capture in this email all of the things that have shifted in my life over this decade purely as a commitment to rest.
When I became a certified coach, I made
- rest,
- joy,
- calling-out hyperproductivity,
- calling-out the often extractive nature of modern work
central to the transformational framework that guides my coaching for leaders and consultation for their organizations.
Permission To Rest
Not that you need one, but in case you do, this is your permission to rest.
As we approach the end of 2024, I invite you to reflect: What type of rest do you need?
Before you answer, I’ve found that building an understanding of Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith’s 7 types of rest helps my clients pinpoint the rest they need.
The 7 Types of Rest and How to Practice Them
Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith’s research reveals that we can get a full night’s sleep and still feel exhausted.
Why? Because physical rest is just one kind of rest.
We often overlook the other areas where our energy gets depleted. Recognizing and addressing these specific rest deficits is essential for achieving true restoration and well-being.
Let’s explore the 7 types of rest and how to incorporate them into your life.
1. Physical Rest
What it is: Rejuvenating your body through sleep, relaxation, or gentle movement.
How to practice: Prioritize sleep, take naps, stretch regularly, do yoga, or schedule a massage.
2. Mental Rest
What it is: Giving your brain a break from constant thinking and decision-making.
Our mental energy gets drained when we are ideating and processing information, so mental rest provides a necessary pause. This is one of the rests I regularly need to take as a professional strategist and problem solver.
How to practice: Take short breaks throughout the day, try mindfulness exercises, or journal to offload racing thoughts.
3. Sensory Rest
What it is: Taking a break from sensory input like screens, noise, bright lights, and other sound stimuli such as notifications and digital pings that disrupt mental clarity or cause anxiety.
How to practice: Set “no-screen” periods, reduce background noise, turn off notifications, dim the lights, or spend time in a dark, quiet space to give your senses a break.
4. Creative Rest
What it is: Recharging by reconnecting with beauty, inspiration, and joy.
In the modern workplace, we are often disconnected from the natural world and the arts—places where productivity isn’t the focus. As a result, we lose touch with creativity and the joy it brings.
Creative rest creates time and space for us to reconnect with the beautiful and inspiring things in our lives and environment.
How to practice: Spend time in nature, visit an art exhibit, listen to music, or add creative elements to your workspace (e.g., flowers or artwork).
5. Emotional Rest
What it is: Being authentic and expressing your true feelings without self-censoring.
Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith describes emotional rest as “the rest we experience when we don’t feel like we’re hiding part of ourselves from other people.”
How to practice: Talk to a trusted friend, partner, or therapist, and set boundaries that allow you to be yourself.
6. Social Rest
What it is: Balancing your social interactions to avoid burnout.
With my coaching clients, I’ve often asked them who the “spiritual vampires” are in their lives—the people who suck their spirit instead of their blood, depleting them nonetheless.
Social rest invites us to be intentional about connecting with people who uplift us and limiting time with those who drain our energy.
How to practice: Spend time with supportive people who leave you feeling revived, and step back from relationships that deplete your energy.
7. Spiritual Rest
What it is: Finding a sense of purpose and connection to something greater than yourself.
How to practice: Engage in meditation, prayer, volunteering, or join a community aligned with your values.
How Will You Claim Your Rest?
During a recent client session, I asked participants:
"What’s one type of rest you most need, and how will you build it into your schedule in the next two weeks?"
Seeing them light up as they imagined their own rest strategies was a powerful reminder that rest is essential for our well-being.
Now, I ask you:
- Which of these types of rest do you need most?
- What small steps can you take to incorporate it before the year ends?
Rest isn’t just about pausing — it’s about restoring yourself so you can thrive.
Wishing you all the restorative time you need to enter 2025 feeling refreshed and recharged.
I’d love to hear how you’re going to rest. Reply to this email and let me know, or bring the converation over to LinkedIn. [Share Your Rest Plans by clicking here]
Warmly,
P.S. Want to collaborate in 2025? You can share the hows and the what’s here and my team will get you set up with an Alignment Call in January. Click here to start your journey.