The 8 Types of Rest Your Whole Self Craves
Most of us were taught that “rest” just means sleep or doing nothing.
But if you’ve ever woken up exhausted, snapped at someone you love, or felt numb even after a day on the couch, you already know: your system needs more than a night of sleep.
From an EarthRae perspective, rest is how we return to ourselves. It’s how we give our nervous system safety, our body kindness, and our spirit space to breathe. Different parts of you need different kinds of rest.
I call them the 8 Portals of Rest.
As you read, notice which ones feel under-nourished in your life. There’s no judgment here—only awareness and choice.
Physical Rest – Honoring the Body
Physical rest is the most obvious and the most ignored. It’s how your muscles repair, your hormones regulate, and your immune system stays strong. When you’re always “pushing through,” your body eventually speaks louder—fatigue, aches, irritability, brain fog.
Supportive practices:
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Aim for 7–9 hours of consistent, quality sleep
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Build in true rest days between intense workouts
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Explore restorative or yin-style movement instead of always going hard
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Simply lay down for a few minutes and let your body be held
Physical rest says: You don’t have to earn your right to pause.
Mental Rest – Quieting the Mind
Mental rest is a break from the constant thinking, planning, fixing, and organizing. Over time, an overactive mind can feed anxiety, worry, and decision fatigue.
Supportive practices:
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Create phone-free windows in your day
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Schedule “no new decisions” time, even for 10–15 minutes
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Practice simple, present-moment breathing—no perfection required
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Notice when you’re overthinking and gently redirect attention to your senses
Mental rest says: You are allowed to put the mental load down.
Sensory Rest – Soothing the Senses
We live in a world of bright screens, loud notifications, and crowded spaces. Sensory overload keeps your nervous system in a low-level state of threat, even when nothing “bad” is happening.
Supportive practices:
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Step away from screens and noise regularly
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Dim the lights or sit in a darker, softer space
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Drive or walk without music or podcasts sometimes
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Choose comfortable, gentle clothing that helps your body feel safe
Sensory rest says: You don’t have to take in so much all at once.
Emotional Rest – Letting Yourself Feel
Emotional rest is the space where you don’t have to be “fine.” You don’t have to manage everyone else’s feelings or keep yours perfectly contained.
For many of us, this kind of rest can feel the scariest—especially if we were taught that big feelings are “too much” or “not allowed.” But emotional rest is where healing begins.
Supportive practices:
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Limit time with people who constantly drain or invalidate you
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Share honestly with someone who feels emotionally safe
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Journal the uncensored truth about how you’re really doing
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Let your body release through crying, deep sighs, or shaking things off
Emotional rest says: Your feelings are valid and welcome.
Creative Rest – Re-igniting Your Spark
Creative rest happens when you stop forcing yourself to produce and instead allow inspiration, play, and beauty back in.
You don’t have to be “an artist” for this to matter. Your brain and spirit are naturally creative—problem-solving, imagining, visioning your life.
Supportive practices:
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Listen to music that moves your body or heart
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Spend time in nature and notice color, texture, and rhythm
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Play with art, cooking, journaling, or movement with zero pressure
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Try something new simply for the experience, not the outcome
Creative rest says: Your spark doesn’t have to be productive to be worthy.
Social Rest – Choosing Your People
Social rest is not about isolating forever. It’s about stepping back from roles, expectations, and “performing,” and leaning into relationships where you can be fully yourself—or into intentional solitude.
Supportive practices:
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Give yourself permission to say “no” to draining plans
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Spend time with 1–2 people who feel grounding and safe
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Schedule quiet time alone to decompress after big social days
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Notice which relationships leave you feeling more like yourself
Social rest says: You’re allowed to choose the connections that nourish you.
Spiritual Rest – Remembering Who You Are
Spiritual rest reconnects you to meaning, purpose, and something bigger than your to-do list. It doesn’t have to look like any specific religion or practice; it’s about feeling anchored to something greater than you.
Supportive practices:
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Sit in silence and simply notice your breath
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Pray, pull cards, set intentions, or journal
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Spend time in nature and feel your feet on the earth
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Reflect on the values that matter most to you right now
Spiritual rest says: You are guided. You are held. You belong here.
Cognitive Rest – Clearing the Mental Clutter
Cognitive rest is about giving your brain a break from constant input—news, social media, podcasts, notifications, courses. Even “good” information can be overwhelming when it never stops.
Supportive practices:
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Take regular breaks from complex tasks or problem-solving
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Build in short “no information” pockets in your day
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Practice mindfulness, body scans, or breath-based awareness
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Limit multitasking and return to doing one thing at a time
Cognitive rest says: You don’t have to carry everything in your head at once.
What area’s are calling for more attention?
You don’t have to perfect all eight portals at once. Healing is not another performance.
Instead, notice: Which type of rest is your body, mind, or spirit craving most today? Start there. One small choice. One gentle shift.
This is the heart of EarthRae—supporting you in creating a life where your nervous system can exhale, your authentic self can rise, and your purpose feels possible again.
If you’re feeling overstimulated, disconnected, or unsure where to begin, this is exactly what we explore inside my coaching and 9D Breathwork journeys.
You’re welcome to book a complimentary clarity call to find the kind of support and rest your system needs next.