Understanding and Protecting Different Types of Rest

Hey Reader,

This is the final essay in my mini-series on rest. If you missed any or want to recap — read the benefits of productive rest, the 4 stages of creative work, and my honest OOO message.

5 Types of Rest

As mentioned in the book Rest, deliberate rest can involve activities that cultivate skills we first developed with our parents or older siblings, or that reflect childhood interests. By engaging in these activities, individuals can give their brains the necessary rest and recovery time to come up with new and innovative ideas. Here are the 5 types of rest I practice:

1. Sleep: overnight rest and the most effective long-term benefits.
2. Naps: 20-120 minute mid-day rests to refresh the mind and body.
3. Mental: allowing the mind to disengage from activity (but not sleep).
4. Active: walking and other light to moderate physical exercise.
5. Associative: reading, journaling, or casual research that can help form connections between ideas from different fields of study.

Sleep

Sleep is an essential component of rest that can help us be more productive and creative. It provides the body and mind with the necessary restorative processes to recharge and recover from work. During sleep, the mind can process information and solve complex problems that may have been difficult to solve while awake.

Deep sleep can also provide the space for the brain to make unexpected connections between ideas and create new insights. Getting enough sleep can also help to maintain a sustainable pace that allows for better productivity and creativity without experiencing burnout.

Naps

Taking naps can help refresh the mind and body, leading to increased productivity and energy. A short, 20-120 minute nap during the day can provide mental rejuvenation without leaving you feeling groggy or tired. By taking a nap at the right time, you can also balance your circadian rhythm and sleep pressure, leading to a nap that balances REM and short-wave sleep. This can give you a creative nudge, helping you dream up new ideas and enroll your subconscious in whatever you were recently working on.

Mental

Taking mental breaks, such as through meditation or prayer, can help to disengage the mind from work and promote relaxation. This can allow for increased focus and creativity while also helping to maintain a sense of calm. By taking time to step away from work and engage in a mental break, individuals can give their brains the necessary rest and recovery time to come up with new and innovative ideas.

Active

Taking part in light physical activities, such as hiking, yoga, or walking, can also help promote rest and recovery. These activities can provide a break from the mental strain of work and help to promote relaxation, leading to increased focus, productivity, and creativity. Additionally, research has shown that exposure to nature can have a restorative effect on the mind and body, further promoting relaxation and creativity.

Associative

Associative rest activities, such as reading, journaling, or casual research, can help form connections between ideas from different fields of study. By taking a break from work and engaging in these activities, individuals can give their brains the necessary rest and recovery time to come up with new and innovative ideas. They also help to maintain a sense of calm and promote relaxation, leading to increased focus and productivity. They are unique opportunities to expand our knowledge and interests in new ways.

Summary

Rest is not the negation of productivity and creativity, but an essential component that allows us to do our best work. In Rest, Alex Soojung-Kim Pang discusses the importance of rest and provides examples of history's most creative individuals who took rest seriously.

By taking rest seriously and engaging in activities such as sleep, naps, mental breaks, light physical activities, and associative rest activities, individuals can maintain a sustainable pace that allows for better productivity and creativity without experiencing burnout.

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Thanks for reading this edition of my To-Do’s Day newsletter. If you know any friends who would like to read this, share on Twitter, LinkedIn, or email.

Matt

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