All Rest is Not Equal

This week gave me a very real reminder that rest isn’t just about sleep.

I flew home from my trip to Florida just as the spring time change hit. Somehow, in a moment of ambitious optimism, I still thought a 7:00 a.m. Monday Pilates class was a great idea.

By Monday afternoon, I felt fine . . . ish.

By Tuesday, I felt like my brain was moving through molasses. By Wednesday, I realized something surprising: it was taking me most of the week to recover.

Not because anything dramatic happened. Just a perfect little storm of travel, disrupted sleep, a time change, and jumping straight back into the week without much pause.

It made me think about how often we assume rest simply means “getting enough sleep.” But what I realized this week is that I wasn’t just physically tired—I was mentally foggy, a bit peopled-out and creatively tapped.

In other words, sleep alone wasn’t the solution. I needed a few different kinds of rest.

And it got me thinking about the many ways we restore our energy—something we don’t talk about nearly enough when we’re busy drafting our lives forward.

So I did some research, and here it is:

Physical Rest

This is the most obvious kind.

It includes sleep, naps, stretching, slowing down, and giving the body time to recover.

But physical rest isn’t only about collapsing at the end of the day. It’s also about honoring your body’s signals before burnout—stepping away from the computer, taking a walk, loosening the shoulders, breathing deeply.

Even if it seems counter-intuitive, sometimes the most productive thing you can do is close the laptop.

Mental Rest

Mental fatigue happens when your brain has been “on” for too long—problem solving, decision making, planning, remembering.

Signs you need mental rest:

• rereading the same sentence three times

• forgetting simple things

• feeling overwhelmed by small decisions

Mental rest comes from short breaks, journaling, quiet walks, or stepping away from information input.

Your brain needs white space.

Creative Rest

Creative rest happens when you stop trying to produce and instead let yourself absorb.

Artists, writers, entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers often burn out because they’re constantly generating ideas.

Creative rest looks like:

• time in nature

• visiting a museum

• listening to music

• reading something purely for enjoyment

It reminds your brain that inspiration comes not just from effort—but from exposure.

Emotional Rest

Emotional rest means having spaces where you don’t have to perform.

Where you can say:

“I’m actually tired.”

“I’m overwhelmed.” “

I don’t have it all figured out.”

It’s the relief of being honest and supported instead of always being the strong one.

Social Rest

Not all social interaction is equal.

Some relationships drain energy. Others restore it.

Social rest means choosing connection intentionally—spending time with people who allow you to be yourself and stepping back from interactions that constantly require effort or performance.

Spiritual Rest

This doesn’t have to be religious.

Spiritual rest is the feeling of being connected to something larger than your daily to-do list.

It might come from:

• time in nature

• prayer or meditation

• service to others

• quiet reflection on purpose and meaning

It’s the kind of rest that reminds you your life is bigger than your inbox.

No journal prompts or affirmations this week. Your assignment instead . . . pay attention to your fatigue. Think about what type of rest you might need. And instead of simply taking a nap, give yourself what you actually need.

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Office Hours:  Office Hours for the month of March will be on Monday, March 23. This is for Editor's Circle Coaching Members as well as any Guided Revision Coaching Members who would like to touch base between scheduled coaching appointments. HERE is the link to schedule a 30-minute slot

The Weekly Draft: happens every Sunday evening at 7pm at this link. Come prepared to reflect on the past week and draft the upcoming week. It is meant to be a heads down, co-planning time, with me being available to share strategies and/or answer questions. Join me HERE