A wonderful friend and I share the same birthday and the same reality of a professional life that is both rewarding and demanding. After months of rescheduling, we finally did an extremely belated birthday celebration (yes, our birthdays were back in October 🫣 ) with a full day of wellness: exfoliating scrubs, guided meditations, aromatherapy, cold plunges, steam baths, nourishing food, and, most importantly, the gift of good company. It turned into an experience of redefining rest in ways I hadn’t expected. You can check out more highlights from the day here.
I went into the day believing I’d finally get the deep, uninterrupted sleep my body had been craving. But when the chance came to nap, I couldn’t. My mind refused to switch off.
At first, I felt frustrated. Then, I chose not to fight it.
Instead, I leaned into presence. I noticed the sounds around me, paid attention to how my body responded to each experience, practiced different breathing techniques, and even allowed myself to read a book purely for pleasure. By the end of the day, something clicked: I felt restored, even without sleeping.
The Many Types of Rest
So often, we equate “rest” with “sleep.” But sleep is only one form of rest. According to Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, author of Sacred Rest, there are at least seven different types of rest:
- Physical rest (sleep, naps, stretching, relaxation)
- Mental rest (quieting racing thoughts, mindfulness)
- Sensory rest (reducing noise, light, screen time)
- Creative rest (space for inspiration and imagination)
- Emotional rest (authenticity, expressing feelings)
- Social rest (time with people who restore you)
- Spiritual rest (connection to meaning and purpose)
That day reminded me that what I truly needed wasn’t sleep, it was a blend of mental, sensory, and creative rest. By slowing down and paying attention, my nervous system got the reset it had been asking for. It was a personal lesson in redefining rest.
Why Mindfulness Restores Us
When we practice mindfulness, simply noticing our breath, sensations, or environment, we activate the parasympathetic nervous system. This is the “rest-and-digest” mode that helps the body release stress, regulate breathing, soften muscle tension, and even shift perspective.
Redefining rest this way highlights that it doesn’t always have to mean shutting down; sometimes it’s about tuning in.
A Takeaway for Busy Professionals
If your schedule is packed, it can feel like deep rest is out of reach unless you find time for a long nap or a full night of sleep. But here’s the reframe: rest can happen in small, intentional ways throughout the day.
- Take 5 minutes to breathe with your phone on silent.
- Step outside and notice the colors, scents, or air on your skin.
- Read or do something just for pleasure.
- Check in with your shoulders, jaw, and posture, soften them.
These micro-moments count. They build resilience. And sometimes, they’re exactly what your body is asking for. Consider this your invitation to join me in redefining rest and allowing it to look different than you expect.
Final Thought
That belated birthday wellness day gave me a much-needed reminder: rest isn’t one-size-fits-all. Sometimes, it’s not about sleep at all, it’s about slowing down enough to notice yourself again.
✨ Reflection Prompt: What kind of rest are you craving most right now, physical, mental, emotional, or something else?
If you’re finding it hard to carve out the kind of rest you truly need, know that you don’t have to figure it out alone. Supporting caregivers and busy professionals in creating realistic, nurturing and sustainable self-care practices is what I do. If you’d like guidance, resources, or simply someone to walk alongside you in your journey of Redefining Rest, feel free to reach out at info@nurturingourwellbeing.com
Remember, self-care is the best care. Why wait? Start N.O.W.
