Seven types of rest that help me recover

Before writing this blog, I first look up a few things on Google for context and inspiration, such as: the definition of peace. Hmm… interesting—rest has more variations than just that single term “rest.” The seven types of rest appear multiple times in the search results. According to American physician Saundra Dalton-Smith, there are seven types of rest that you all need to maintain your energy levels. She writes about this, among other things, in her book “Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity.” Based on these 7 types of rest, I’ll explain what rest means to me.

1. Physical rest

“Allows your body to recover.”

For me, sleep is number one when it comes to physical rest. Just dozing off for a moment when I’m not paying attention counts too, but usually I end up sleeping longer than I intended… Another favorite way to get physical rest is a relaxation massage. I get my back, neck, and shoulders massaged fairly regularly. It’s not only relaxing, but also a good exercise to just lie there for half an hour and feel what it does for me without letting in all the thoughts that cause restlessness. I’m getting better at this. And this is a nice bridge to mental rest.

2. Mental rest

“Is about peace of mind: calming your thoughts and letting go of stress.”

Of these seven types of rest, finding mental peace is the hardest for me. For a long time, I relied on less effective methods to achieve this. Making the switch to a healthy approach was quite a challenge. One of the things that works is listening to music, but taking a long walk after a day of work is also nice. While working, I try to disconnect from my laptop every half hour to make sure I don’t get too hyper-focused and drain my energy. In the evening, when I want to go to sleep, finding peace of mind is quite a challenge. I can set my watch by it—there’s always restlessness. Doing a body scan or breathing exercise helps me (or does it?) find peace again, though podcasts on “easier” topics sometimes work too. For example, I like listening to the podcast “Drie kwartjes” by two of the guys from Jeugd van Tegenwoordig, and I also enjoy “Zelfspodcast.”

3. Emotional calm

“Recognizing, understanding, and processing emotions.”

Wow, this is a tough one too… Dealing with and expressing emotions isn’t my favorite thing (whose is?). Avoiding and bottling things up was often my first reaction, but that’s never really worked out. That’s exactly why it’s something I need to focus on. Sometimes distraction works better, but sometimes facing it head-on is still the best approach. A good conversation works well then, but of course it depends a bit on the situation and environment. That could be with my coach or team leader, but even just texting someone or venting to colleagues helps.

4. Social Rest

“The opposite of social interaction: giving yourself the space to be alone.”

On Wednesdays, I’m always off work, but I’m rarely free of appointments. Of course, that’s what days off are for, but I also try to plan a day where I don’t have anything scheduled with others. Sometimes I enjoy getting up a little later than on workdays, having a nice, quiet cup of coffee, putting on a playlist on Spotify, or watching a documentary. Then I go for a walk, run some errands, or just sit on my balcony for a bit.

5. Creative rest

“Creative rest is about letting go of the pressure to perform and stimulating your creativity.”

My first thought was that music “turns on” my creative brain. Beautiful lyrics that move me, great beats, and memories that come together in my own context. I listen to many different kinds of music; the style really depends on my mood at the moment. My “Liked Songs” list on Spotify has now hit 2,500 songs.

Music isn’t the only thing that brings me peace; several different sources of peace come together here. For example, that long walk I mentioned earlier in connection with mental peace is something that helps me recharge. While I’m out, I take photos with my phone. People who know me well know that I love to shoot directly into the sun. Other subjects include interesting cloud formations, beautiful skies, and animals…

For about the past six months, I’ve been volunteering to help build a new website for a foundation. This is a great outlet for my creativity. Plus, it reignites my creative energy for other online projects. The foundation and its ambassadors are committed to neuro-inclusive workplaces and a work environment where neurodiversity can be visible and discussed. This, of course, aligns perfectly with my work at Swink!

6. Sensory calm

“Detaching yourself from external stimuli.”

My trusty noise-canceling headphones play a big role in helping me find peace. I use them for almost everything: working, walking, traveling, blocking out my neighbors’ noise… I even have a spare pair, so I’m never caught without them if they run out of battery or I accidentally leave them at home. I often have music playing, but it’s also nice to just have nothing on and still have my headphones on.

7. Spiritual peace

“It’s about finding meaning, connection, and purpose in your life.”

Although I don’t immediately associate peace with work, a sense of purpose is largely tied to my job. Going to work, for example, boosts my self-esteem, and I find joy in the colleagues around me. Another factor is that my work is valuable to a large audience.

When it comes to the question “What do I really find important, and what makes me happy?” it’s good to go back to basics. Big questions like “What is my role here on Earth?” and “What is the higher purpose?” don’t help me. My most important lesson from recent years is that it’s found in smaller things than you might think. A colleague who gives a compliment, but also crocuses in the grass, the smell of fresh coffee, or my red cat who lies down right in the middle of my keyboard, purring loudly—those kinds of things. 😊

Peace of mind means something different to everyone and therefore goes beyond just a good night’s sleep. To put it in perspective: people are bombarded with millions of stimuli per second. That number is far too high, so 99.9997 percent is quickly filtered out. Ultimately, an average of 33 stimuli per second remain. The brains of people with autism function differently in this regard than those of neurotypical people. Specifically, they struggle to filter and process this flow of information. This leads to overstimulation, stress, and faster fatigue. That’s why it’s especially important to get one or more of the seven types of rest in a timely manner. Rest isn’t a luxury but an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. This is even more true for people with autism.