I wish I knew about the 7 types of rest when I started my career.

 I wish I knew about the 7 types of rest when I started my career.

When I experienced burnout as a case manager and child and youth worker, I kept coming home and zoning out on the couch, too depleted to do anything else.

Even after a full night’s sleep, I still felt exhausted. My mind was already thinking about tomorrow- who I needed to follow up with, what hadn’t been finished, what I might have missed.

Have you ever slept eight hours and still woken up feeling completely drained? That’s because sleep and rest aren’t the same thing.

According to Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, we actually need 7 distinct types of rest:

1️⃣ Physical Rest: Passive (sleeping) or active (stretching/yoga)

2️⃣ Mental Rest: Giving your brain a break from schedules, decisions and mental load

3️⃣ Sensory Rest: Unplugging from screens, bright lights, and noise

4️⃣ Creative Rest: Experiencing beauty (like nature or art) without needing to produce anything

5️⃣ Emotional Rest: Having the space to express your feelings without filters

6️⃣ Social Rest: Spending time with people who restore you, not drain you

7️⃣ Spiritual Rest: Reconnecting to a deep sense of purpose and belonging

If you are feeling stuck in a cycle of chronic fatigue, it is time to look at how you are draining your battery, not just how long you are sleeping

Which of these 7 types do you feel you need the most right now?