I'm Thinking About... Rest

Welcome to the second installment of I'm Thinking About... This will be a semi regular article in our newsletter, with a brief grab of information from evidence-based research and some musings. The topics of this article will sometimes relate to what’s happening within the school or the world, sometimes it will relate to what our teachers are researching or developing, sometimes it will not relate to anything other than children’s development and education. We hope this article will spark some to ponder and some to converse within and across the community. We will not be telling anyone what to do or even providing any answers - the intention of this space is not to know, but to think.

7 Types of Rest

As we move into week six of term two 2022, we are noticing (and feeling!) that there seems to be an almost new type of ‘tired’ that students, staff and parents/carers are feeling. We are constantly reminding ourselves that this is actually the first time in almost three years that we have lived a fully ‘happening’ term two week six, and that our ‘match fitness’ for negotiating all of the social, academic and personal challenges that it presents may not yet be quite up to scratch. 

We are reminded of the seven types of rest that we should all be taking; 

#1 Physical rest

Physical rest can be passive or active. Passive physical rest includes sleeping and napping, while active physical rest means restorative activities such as yoga, stretching and massage therapy which help improve the body’s circulation and flexibility.

#2 Mental rest

Mental rest means scheduling short, intentional breaks throughout our day. This type of rest  can remind us to slow down. Clearing our mental load through drawing or journalling, or doing some mindful coloring are great examples of mental rest. 

#3 Sensory rest

Bright lights, computer screens, background noise and multiple conversations — whether they’re in the classroom  or on a Google meet  — can cause our senses to feel overwhelmed. Sensory rest means  doing something as simple as closing your eyes for a minute in the middle of the day, as well as by  intentionally unplugging from electronics at the end of each day. 

#4 Creative rest

Creative rest is especially important for anyone who spends their time solving problems or thinking of different ways to do things (sounds like a BNWPS student!). Creative rest reawakens the awe and wonder inside each of us. Creative rest includes enjoying nature and the arts - listening to music, watching a dance performance or painting a picture are all examples of creative rest. 

#5 Emotional rest

Emotional rest  means creating the time and space to freely express your feelings. Emotional rest also requires the courage to be authentic (one of our values!) . An emotionally rested person can answer the question “How are you today?” with a truthful “I’m not okay” — and then go on to share some hard things that otherwise go unsaid.

#6 Social rest

Social rest means taking a break from those relationships that exhaust us. To experience more social rest, we need to surround ourselves with positive and supportive people, and focus on the ‘bucket filling’ that they can provide for us, and that we can provide for them. 

#7 Spiritual rest

Spiritual rest is the ability to connect beyond the physical and mental and feel a deep sense of belonging, love, acceptance and purpose. To engage in Spiritual rest, engage in something greater than yourself and add  meditation or community involvement to your day.

These seven types of rest help us to remember that sometimes, ‘just getting more sleep’ is not quite enough, sometimes we need to consciously make a decision to rest part of ourselves.

I wonder how many of these types of rest you may have engaged in over the past week? What might you do this week to help you rest your head, heart or hands?