6 Forms of rest for female entrepreneurs

When you think of the word ‘rest,’ what comes to mind? Sleeping? Yoga? Watching Netflix? Running?

Maybe you think of all of those things as rest. And maybe they are, but they can sometimes feel unrealistic or difficult for anyone with a short attention span, anxiety or insomnia.

I know that when I first started trying to figure out how to rest more effectively, I found myself thinking about what it meant to ‘rest’ and how it is different from sleeping or sitting still. It made me realize that I needed a different kind of rest which requires a bit more movement and stimulation. So when I learnt about these different forms of rest, it made it easier to reframe what resting means for me.

The six forms of rest.

1. Physical Rest

Physical Rest is an activity that restores the body, like yoga, massage therapy or stretching. Physical movement can help release endorphins and relieve tension stored in the body. It is important to get some form of physical rest at least two or three times a week.

2.Mental Rest

When you’re feeling mentally drained, it’s your body telling you that it’s time for a mental rest. Activities like going for a walk and writing in a journal are examples of mental rest. We can also rest our minds by being unavailable for some time and disconnecting from the internet, social media and our emails.

3. Social Rest

Socializing can be a form of rest if you’re around people that you find enthusiastically supportive, kind and easy to be around. Topping up your social glass can help you feel content and well rested.

4.Sensory Rest

Whether we realize it or not, our senses are being over-stimulated all day long. Unplug the electronics, turn the lights off if possible and shut your eyes for a few minutes to recharge.

5.Emotional Rest

If you haven’t expressed your feelings and you feel like you’ve got an emotional build up then give yourself the space and time to have a big cry; validate your feelings; and talk it out with good friends or a trained professional.

6.Creative Rest

Using a creative outlet can be so productive. It allows you to focus on one thing and be totally present. Creative rest could be creating something with your hands, dancing, singing, cooking or reading a book. For me, it’s antiquing and restoring old furniture.

Resting isn't just something you do when you're tired or stressed out; it's also a crucial part of being healthy and functioning at your best. In order to get the most out of your life, you need to give yourself some time to rest and recover from the stressors that come with living in our fast-paced society.