The 7 types of rest - because lying horizontal is great but we can do other stuff too!

Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith created the 7 types of rest, and since learning about them they’ve made my life immeasurably better.

Do you rest?

Or do you only do productive rest?

Or do you only do earned rest?

A special note on rest

Yep. You’re human. We suck at rest.

Rest “needs” to be earned, it needs to be productive, but, it should also be slow, simple, easy, no thinking.

That’s incredibly difficult to manage.

Instead, let’s dive into the 7 types of rest of Dr, Saundra Dalton-Smith, and you’ll get to enjoy figuring out which ones work for you.

The 7 types of rest

💪 Physical - this could be lying horizontal OR it could be going out and moving your body: dancing, working out, going for a walk

🧠 Mental - this could be meditating and quieting your brain OR it could be reading, doing a puzzle, learning a new language

🎧 Sensory - this could be sitting in a dark room OR it could be getting out in danger, going to a rave!

💐 Emotional - this could look like talking to a therapist, joining a support group OR getting out of your head and watching a comedy

👯 Social - this could look like a quiet night at home OR spending time with people who you love and make you feel good!

🧑‍🎨 Creative - this could look like experiencing creativity in a book, a museum, or a movie OR it could be creating your own art

🌿 Spiritual - this could look like prayer, meditation OR connecting with your community

My favorite thing about the 7 types of rest is that they don’t all mean being passive. In fact, rest can look active -> it just doesn’t have to be productive!!!

Which one will you try?