What’s the image that comes to mind when you hear the word ‘rest’? Perhaps it’s someone curled up on a sofa, lying on a beach or tucked up in bed. Rest is often thought of purely in terms of the physical, but it has many dimensions and can take a variety of forms. While the need for bodily relaxation is easy to spot, it can be harder to identify other facets of fatigue that are just as depleting. Knowing the signs to look out for in yourself and understanding the different kinds of rest you might need can give you the tools to feel fully restored.
A well-rested person tends to feel their best. They’re simultaneously calm and energised, inspired and motivated. Most importantly, they’re able to tackle different situations with ease, however challenging they might be. A lack of sufficient breathing space can have a negative impact on both mental and physical health. Jo McMeechan is a Gloucestershirebased physiotherapist who works with children who have additional needs and supports their families to get the downtime they require. ‘When you don’t fulfil your rest threshold, neurologically it sets off the sympathetic nervous system, the anxiety and stress response. You might find it hard to concentrate, your attention span is shorter, you can be easily distracted and more irritable,’ she says. Physically, you might have trouble sleeping, your eating patterns can change, you might have tightness in the chest, headaches or stomach issues.