7 Types of Rest-Which Do We Need?
Published: 2021-10-18 02:52:06

We all know we need rest, right? Obviously. And as developers (and people) taking time to rest is important, we need to be sharp in our thinking, in accuracy, feel constantly inspired and creative but staring a computer screen looking for a missing ; can drive anyone a little mad. I recently saw this [article](https://ideas.ted.com/the-7-types-of-rest-that-every-person-needs/) which got me thinking about rest and how much we need, also the different types of rest we should be thinking about for our well-being. I had no idea there were more than a handful of rest types. But let’s go through them think about each a little. See which types of rest you may need and if you’re neglecting them. 

**Physical Rest**- ok, this one was easy. Everyone knows what physical rest is and why we need it. We need to sleep or nap, this is passive. There is also active physical rest which restores us, so stretching or massage, etc. 

**Mental Rest**- most of us have a vague idea of what this is but I also think most of us find this incredibly elusive. A lack of mental rest can make us irritable and forgetful, and we have the feeling of not being able to turn our brains off. The above mentioned article recommends scheduling short breaks every two hours to remind ourselves to slow down. And because we live in a culture that requires us to be on and available 24/7, we should be extra cautious of any signs of burnout and deal with them accordingly. 

**Sensory Rest**- ok developers, this one will ring true for you…computer screens, lights, Zoom calls, phone calls, interruptions, juggling multiple conversations, is this sounding familiar? We are constantly overloading our senses. How do we combat this? Unplugging. While in theory this is a great idea, in practice it can be almost impossible to achieve. Maybe just try not sleeping with your phone next to your head. 

**Creative Rest**- Dr. Daulton-Smith (article author) says this is especially important for those of us who need to problem-solve and/or brainstorm ideas. Hmm, pretty much of the job description of a software engineer. This type of rest requires us to tap into our sense of awe and wonder. We should try to surround ourselves with things that make us feel inspired, which these things can be different for each us. One person might find being surrounded by plants inspirational, another artwork and yet another might find inspiration in music. Find your thing and keep it handy. 

**Emotional Rest**- what? Can we ever get rest from our emotions? Hard to believe that is a possibility. Even while doing something we love, like coding, it can be hard to not feel frustrated or overwhelmed or a million other things sometimes. And as someone just starting out in tech, we want to do a good job which can lead down a people-pleasing path. We have to be able to freely express our emotions. Not so easy, right? How many times have you ever answered “how are you?” with an “ok” when things are not ok? If you said a lot, yeah same here. 

**Social Rest**- have you heard of the term energy vampires? I’m sure you we all have a relationship or two that can be draining whether we want it to or not. This puts at a social rest deficit. We need to aim to be around people that support us and are positive. This is especially important in the workplace I think. And because we’re all currently socializing virtually Dr. Daulton-Smith suggests participating fully by turning cameras on and focusing on who we’re speaking with. 

**Spiritual Rest**- [which is the ability to connect beyond the physical and mental and feel a deep sense of belonging, love, acceptance and purpose.](https://ideas.ted.com/the-7-types-of-rest-that-every-person-needs/) Connection to something greater than just us or our jobs, or things-this one is definitely individual to each of us. Find what makes you feel like you belong and practice it. 

So how many of these different types of rest do you feel like you need? How many are you lacking in? To be better people, to be better coders, co-workers, friends, pretty much everything, we all need rest. Figure out the types of rest you need and start implementing some daily practices that help you get them. I know if I’m feeling mentally or physically spent I’m not showing up as my best self or doing my best work. I definitely learned quite a bit about where I need to start focusing my efforts. Now, I’m going to try and get some rest!