“Doctor, I am so tired. I still feel drained even after a 10-hour sleep.”
“I feel lonely, unappreciated and extremely tired. Help me doctor.” These are two of the
numerous examples that clients complain of on a daily basis. We are in “an energy crisis that has
nothing to do with oil and gas” and unless we learn to take the necessary breaks and make minor
adjustments to our way of life we are heading for a generation that has burnt-out high achievers.
Oh and I am not in any way trivializing our current energy crisis that has everything to do with
oil, I am only drawing attention to the other crisis that is totally overlooked.
Deep, adequate sleep is an extremely powerful life-changing natural phenomenon that many
people trample upon. If you had to make a single change to your life to grow healthier I will
suggest you sleep more if you sleep less than 7 or 8 hours a day. Yes, napping also has an
energizing role in our health quest. Rest is such a broad and grey area and it appears sleep is only
part of the whole enigma of REST. Now you will understand why an evening with family or
friends out of home after a tiring week invigorates you. Also there must be some magic spending
time by the seaside even if you don’t sleep. How about playing music with friends? Rest is much
more than sleep and though sleep is extremely important all the other forms of rest do matter as
well.
A LOOK AT THE 7 TYPES OF REST
1. PHYSICAL REST
a. We all know that feeling when you just want the body to take a break. It turns out
physical rest can be broken down into 2
i. Passive Rest ; lying down, sleeping, napping
ii. Active Rest; yoga, massage, stretching etc.
Read on Sleep Well- Your Life Depends on it
2. MENTAL REST
Typically one feels irritable, forgetful and unable to concentrate at work etc. May get 8
hours of sleep yet feels horrible. This may be tell-tale signs that you need mental rest
How to fix this;
o Switch off your brain. Take short breaks every two hours talk about or
write down your feelings so you are not carrying them around
3. SENSORY REST
With the noise all around, bright lights, screen time and a host of others, our senses feel
overwhelmed.
How to fix this;
o Simply close your eyes for a minute
o Unplug intentionally; Take a break from computers, phones, bright lights,
noise and conversations
4. CREATIVE REST
It is important to awaken the excitement deep within us. The glitter in our eyes. That is
another realm of rest.
How to fix this;
Walk in a beautiful place in nature, watch a movie, play a musical instrument,
garden or do art. The good news is you do not even need to be good at it.
5. EMOTIONAL REST
Often we are unable to say NO when that is exactly what is needed. We accept additional
engagements only to sit in our corner later and feel lonely and unappreciated.
How to fix this;
Cut back on people-pleasing “adventures”
Create time to freely express your feelings and emotions. “ME-TIME” and
SELFCARE can’t be over emphasized
6. SOCIAL REST
It is rare to find someone who needs emotional rest BUT has no social rest deficit. They
often come as a “couple”. We need to be able to difference between relationships that
energise us and those that drain all we have.
How to fix this;
Surround yourself with supportive and positive people, rather than people that
exhaust you.
Engage in conversation and stay focused. Paying attention does wonders to our
brain
7. SPIRITUAL REST
We all need to rely on the power of a superior being and for me it is GOD! We need that
sense of belonging (child of God), love and a PURPOSE. That gives us the needed rest
How to fix this;
Prayer
Praise and worship to The Almighty
Meditation
Service to the community
My advice is let us put all these into practice as often as possible. Every day is possible. Do not
wait till you are too tired or feel totally broken before you search for these tips. The time is now
and remember SLEEP is supreme but we need the other forms of rest to be complete. Seek
professional medical care if you continue to feel “unrested”.
AS ALWAYS LAUGH OFTEN, ENSURE HYGIENE, WALK AND PRAY EVERYDAY
AND REMEMBER IT’S A PRICELESS GIFT TO KNOW YOUR NUMBERS (blood
sugar, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, BMI)
Dr. Kojo Cobba Essel
Health Essentials Ltd/Mobissel
(www.healthessentialsgh.com)
*Dr. Essel is a medical doctor, holds an MBA and is ISSA certified in exercise therapy, fitness
nutrition and corrective exercise. He is the author of the award-winning book, ‘Unravelling the
Essentials of Health & Wealth.’
Thought for the week – “Whatever you practice grows stronger, what are you practicing now?”
References:
- Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD – ideas.ted.com
