There is an assumption that when I am working with people on a career to enjoy not endure, and we talk about balance, it’s about productivity. That the aim is to maximize the quantity AND quality of what you can achieve in a set period. To even create what is known as Big Fat Hair Audacious Goals (BFHAG). What may surprise you, is that I am probably the opposite of that. I encourage people to create their version of success, which, at times, is about simplifying not growth. One area that is often disregarded when it comes to careers is essential to achieving a balanced life. It’s unique to each person, can change across your life and situation, and can often be free. What is this magical thing? It is rest, and it is essential for creating a career to enjoy.
If you are like me, you will have spent the last year rewriting what your life looks like. We have been restricted on where we can go, how we can work, and how we spend our time. We have uncovered a resilience we didn’t know we had, and been stunned by how the youngsters in our lives have coped with such a fundamental upheaval in their lives and schooling. We have cried, we have laughed, we have worried, and many of us have discovered what REALLY matters. Right now, we can see glimmers of hope across the horizon and are feeling cautiously optimistic about things returning to what we need: elements of predictability and much more freedom and control.
I’m hearing, from friends, family, clients, and the media, the narrative that we need to “catch up” on the goals and duties that we have had to put on hold. As we move into this new transition in our lives, it’s easy to fill our diaries to the brim with all the things we have had to pause; there is something quite exciting for me to have a (hopefully) uninterrupted six-hour workday.
However, I want us to stop before we try to make ourselves feel better by getting busy. The emotional toll of this year won’t disappear by becoming more active. Whilst we may not have been getting through our work lists at the pace we want, instead, we slot in work around childcare, remote learning and other caring responsibility, we have been fighting with the emotional and physical strain of this life experience. Whilst a pandemic is something that none of us expected and I hope that we never have to experience again, resilience testing episodes in our lives will continue. From bereavement, ill health, relationship breakdown, money issues and other stresses, we need to make sure we allow ourselves the opportunity to recuperate for our physical, emotional and mental health.
This isn’t the first time (or will be the last time) that I have banged my metaphorical drum about this, but this blog covers something new to me. The idea that every human need to access seven different types of rest. When we think about rest, we often think about sleep. That is the ultimate rest, and it gives us a chance to repair; if you may have read my review of “Why We Sleep”, which lays out all the many examples of research that highlights how sleep helps us grow and heal; there is a reason that sleep deprivation is used as torture. However, what has recently come into my awareness of all the different types of rest we need and how this can help not only become more productive, it helps us be calmer, healthier and more creative!
If you are a follower of my social media channels, you may have seen a visual I recently shared the concept of 7 types of rest, as penned by Sandra Dalton-Smith MD. It goes without saying that sleep is part of the rest, but the others may surprise you, and I am sure they are areas that we are missing right now. We don’t need to catch up, we need to rest!
The seven types of rest you need
Physical Rest
This can be passive (such as sleeping or napping) or active, which are restorative such as yoga, massage or stretching. How can you fit these into your day?
Mental Rest
Very simply, a break from work and the world! A chance to put your brain into “neutral” away from tasks to allowing your brain to relax and make connections. This could be simply having a ten-minute break between tasks ( a cup of tea anyone?) to having a note pad by your bed, so you aren’t awake planning and pondering.
Sensory Rest
Zoom fatigue (other videoconferencing is available) is a real thing right now. Even if our work isn’t tech-based, our communication has become so much more screen-based in the past year. We move from laptop to smartphone to smart tv as a standard way of living and, simply, our senses can’t manage. We aren’t designed to live like this. So, this could be moving from iPad to notepad, have a phone call instead of a video call or walking in nature without your devices!
Creative Rest
When is the last time you played? Painted, read, moved, or wrote just for fun? How did you feel? Creative rest is great for many reasons, it activates problem-solving within our brain, as well as enabling us to feel connected to something bigger than us. I know I always feel re-energized after I’ve been for a walk in the local nature reserve or read a good book.
Emotional Rest
This is a big one, as it means we have to be not only in touch with what we feel, but we have the confidence to express what we need. So, this is feeling comfortable asking for help, or simply not saying “Yes” to something, because you feel like you must. Do not forget, you can answer honestly when you are asked how you are, and that “No.” is a complete sentence!
Social Rest
Have you heard of the concept of people that are energy radiators and those that are vampires? Some people warm us up and others drain us. So, a social rest would include intentionally reaching out to people who bring something positive into your life and backing away from those who don’t.
Spiritual Rest
This doesn’t have to be religious, although for some it can be. It’s the feeling that you are part of something bigger; you have a purpose, a community and a connection. It could be art, nature, spirituality, or a hobby.
Now, please don’t go into the default setting of “I don’t have time for these”, or “I am exhausted”. Both of those reactions, in fact, show it’s especially important that you factor these seven types of rest into your life. By resting, this helps you rest and gives you the energy to focus on what you want and deserve, rather than living a cycle of stress and fire fighting. You could even be savvy and combine a few of the types of rests at the same time; asking for a walk with a good friend in nature may only take up an hour of your time but ticks quite a few boxes! The one message that we all need is it is OK to need these things in our lives; it’s not selfish, don’t forget, the Doctor actually prescribes it!
What will you add to your day? Come over to Creating Careers to Enjoy and share which elements of rest you will be incorporating into your life!
You may also enjoy:
Book Review: The Pocket Book of Sleep
The balance benefits of understanding your hormones
How to manage your sensory overload as a parent
Clara Wilcox is a straight talking, practical and experienced coach helping clients navigate the tricky waters of returning to work, career changes and professional development. The Balance Collective is a social enterprise focused on improving the lives of parents, by working together to build inner confidence and promote a healthy work/life balance.
