(Posted 2026 April)
7 Ways to Rest Well
Sleeping more isn’t the solution for burnout. Your brain needs more than couch sessions, though those work, too, in conjunction with these other ways:
- Physical rest. This includes sleep, yes, but also massage, yoga, stretching—anything that lets your body recover.
- Mental rest. Regular breaks from decision-making and problem-solving help your brain reset. This looks like meditation, going for walks, and short screen-free pauses.
- Sensory rest. Turn off bright lights, noise, and digital notifications.
- Creative rest. See a museum exhibit, doodle or color mindlessly, pull a chair on the back deck and watch the sunset.
- Emotional rest. Spend time with people who don’t require you to be “on.”
- Social rest. Hang out with human vitamins who energize you. Avoid people who drain you as much as possible.
- Spiritual rest. Connect to a higher power, volunteer, or spend time in nature.
Giving yourself all forms of rest changes your brain chemistry. It also increases your capacity to create, focus, and thrive.
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