7 Types of Rest: Sensory Rest
In this series, we’ll be talking about the seven different types of rest and why you might be struggling even though “you’re taking care of yourself.”
Author Saundra Dalton-Smith outlines each in her book, “Sacred Rest.” There’s creative, mental, emotional, social, sensory, spiritual and physical rest, all of which serve a different purpose in your self-care toolkit.
Let’s dive into Sensory Rest here.
Dalton Smith defines SENSORY REST as “the opportunity to downgrade the endless onslaught of sensory input received from electronics, fragrances, and background noise.”
One thing she mentioned is that from the time we are born, we are constantly using at least one of our senses at all times. No wonder so many of us are feeling a bit overwhelmed.
Which of your five senses most needs a break? Here’s a few ways to tackle each:
Sight - Try dark mode on your phone, laptop, tablet. Throw on an eye mask before you go to sleep to help block out the light.
Sound - Get some noise cancelling phones or just turn on some soothing music on your earbuds. Or, for five minutes a day, try to develop an appreciation for SILENCE. No TV, no music, just…silence.
Taste - Treat yourself to something that tastes divine. Spend 10 minutes focusing just on the food and the flavors in your mouth.
Touch - Bathe yourself in the dark. Take the time to scrub your body from head to toe, focusing on each part. Just being with yourself can ground you and get you centered.
Smell - Often, some of the best smells are in nature. Go outside, especially after a good rain, and inhale. Or, find your favorite smell and incorporate it into your day.
Which of your senses is most overwhelmed right now?
More from the REST series:
