How to Rest (Because It’s Not as Easy as You Think)

Rest is the foundation of wellbeing-driven productivity. If you don’t rest well, you’re not prioritising your wellbeing. If you don’t prioritise your wellbeing, you won’t be productive.

I used to think I was fantastic at rest. Why? Because I sleep like it’s a competitive sport. I can comfortably do nine hours a night. I sleep like the dead.

On the other hand, my husband used to think I was terrible at resting because I was always doing something (except when I was asleep).

In many ways, we were both wrong. Rest is not just about sleep, and it can be active.

What I know now is this: to learn how to rest well and make it a priority, you need to understand the different types of rest, then work out your version of each. After that, it’s time to plan your rest.

The Seven Types of Rest

According to Calm, there are seven types of rest:

1. Physical rest includes sleep and other ways of relaxing your body, such as yoga or a gentle walk.
2. Mental rest is about resting your mind; practices like meditation work for some, but it can be as simple as taking a break at work.
3. Emotional rest means different things to different people. For some, it will be…