By Dr. Gbonjubola Abiri

I visited my mentor earlier last week and noticed he looked exhausted. After successfully hosting a major conference, he confessed that he had only taken one day off, rushed through a busy weekend, and then jumped right back into the hustle and bustle of work.

Concerned, I asked, “Sir, have you had enough rest?”
He quickly replied, “Gbonju, I have slept!”
I pressed further: “But have you rested? When last did you take your Vitamin R?”

Too often, we equate rest with sleep. While sleep is an important form of rest, it is not the whole story. Exhaustion has become the baseline for so many of us, and unfortunately, sleep alone cannot fix it.

Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith, a physician, describes seven types of rest, each one addressing a different kind of fatigue. When we understand and practice these, we can truly recharge and protect our health and well-being.

The 7 Types of Rest

1. Physical Rest: Ensure to engage in both Passive (sleep, naps) and active (Exercise, stretching, yoga, massage therapy) .
2. Sensory Rest: Take a daily “tech detox”, even if just for an hour before bedtime. Step away from screens (laptops, phones, television) and overstimulation.
3. Creative Rest: Refresh your mind through beauty and inspiration as you spend time in nature, enjoy music, take a walk and step away from constant problem-solving routines.
4. Mental Rest: Pause your racing thoughts. Try mindfulness, journaling, or short mental breaks through the day.
5. Emotional Rest: Stop pretending everything is fine. Allow yourself to be vulnerable with someone you trust or seek therapy when needed.
6. Social Rest: Distinguish between relationships that energise you and those that drain you. Spend more time with people who genuinely support and uplift you.
7. Spiritual Rest: Reconnect with purpose through practices such as prayer, meditation, or volunteering, anything that nourishes your soul and aligns with your values.

Modern life keeps us in a constant state of hyperactivity. Without intentional rest, we put ourselves at risk of burnout, illness, and declining mental health.

The key is awareness. Each day, pause and ask yourself:
“What kind of tired am I?”
The answer will guide you to the kind of rest you truly need.
Rest is not weakness, it is healing in motion.

Remember: there is no health without mental health.