Hard at Rest

I’m not a nap guy.

Okay, unless it’s a crisp Sunday afternoon in October and the Bears don’t play until 3.

But for all you midday snoozers out there, do you ever feel like 30 minutes of shuteye simply isn’t enough? Like sometimes you wake up and feel worse than you did before you laid down?

Well, what if I said sleeping isn’t always the same thing as resting? Let me explain.

No, there is too much. Let me sum up.

Two weeks ago, I went to Florida. I spent five days on the beach with my in-laws, where we tossed a football through the ocean breeze, flipped through mystery novels with our feet in the sand, and watched dolphins and sea turtles cruise through the surf beyond the sandbar. We moseyed in and out of beachside shops, snacked on calamari at sunset, and played Clue late into the night. After a school year marked by a constant barrage of (mostly) educated snap decisions, Florida was a much needed reprieve for my body and mind.

Last week, I went to Missouri. I spent five days at Eagle Sky camp in the Ozarks with our church’s high school ministry, where we sharpened our tank top tan lines, played basketball by the lake at 11:00pm, and consumed an irresponsible amount of corn dogs. We worshiped together morning and evening and prayed over each other with arms around shoulders. We circled up, shared our hearts, and committed to renewed relationships with the Lord. It was the spiritual restoration I needed in my soul.

Rest is an essential feature of an abundant life. But not all rest is equal.

Sometimes you need Florida. Sometimes you need Missouri.

In TED’s “How to Be a Better Human” series, Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith offers seven types of rest, including when and how to implement each one. As you look through this list, think about the last time you allowed yourself to experience each type of rest. You might be overdue!

Physical Rest. Passive physical rest, like sleeping and napping, is often our default mode of rest—and rightfully so! Research continues to show that the benefits of a good night’s sleep are irreplaceable. But physical rest can be active too. Active physical rest includes yoga, stretching, and massage therapy.

Mental Rest. All the sleep in the world won’t help you if you don’t clock out of work. With very few exceptions, nobody needs access to you 24 hours a day. Close your laptop, turn off your notifications, and allow your mind space to breathe.

Sensory Rest. Lights. Screens. Noises. Voices. We often don’t realize how much information our brains are processing at any given moment. Learn to be comfortable in silence. As Dr. Dalton-Smith says, “Intentional moments of sensory deprivation can begin to undo the damage inflicted by the over-stimulating world.”

Creative Rest. What inspires you? A snow-capped mountain range? A golden sunset above the open ocean? SGA’s mid-range game? Find a creative outlet and allow yourself time to immerse yourself in it. Whether it’s a walk outside, a passion project, or a good book, creative rest breathes life into the ordinary.

Emotional Rest. It’s important to show up for your friends, but taking on the burdens of others at the expense of your own emotional health can be depleting. Emotional rest means giving yourself space to express yourself authentically—whether in a safe relationship, in a small group, or in a journal—so that you can then show up for your friends with a renewed capacity for empathy.

Social Rest. As an introvert, social rest can mean understanding that it’s okay to prioritize solitude from time to time. As an extrovert, it can mean prioritizing time with the right people who will fill your cup.

Spiritual Rest. Dedicating time to spiritual disciplines like prayer, worship, meditation, and fellowship ignites our relationship with the Lord and reinforces our identity, belongingness, and purpose.

Rest doesn’t come easy in today’s culture of hyperproductivity. In fact, I’m not even sure it comes naturally anymore. But everybody I know who enjoys a rich and fulfilling life practices a regular rhythm of rest.

Take inventory this summer. Where do you feel depleted?

Do you need a nap? Or something more?