Unlocking Rest: Seven Types of Rest to Recharge and Thrive with ADHD

I recently chatted with a friend who also has ADHD about my anxiety around struggling to relax and my desire to find ways to unwind over Christmas.  My friend kindly shared a YouTube video, which I found helpful.  Here is the link for anyone who wants to check it out: 

https://youtu.be/erwj2_5MlBk?si=WU20d57-tUT9iQQ3

For one, I never considered there were different types of rest!  My main takeaway from watching the video was that resting really isn't sitting on the sofa for hours, scrolling on social media, which I know drains me and I end up feeling guilty.  Rest for me could be walking the dog, after sitting at my desk for hours, or journaling or meditating after spending a lot of time with others.  

The different types of rest we need are:

Physical rest ~ for me this actually means being active, to counteract the time I spend sitting at my desk.  For others who are very active, physical rest may actually mean having a nap during the day.  

Mental rest ~ over Christmas, I intend to continue my morning practice of journaling first thing.  I also plan to meditate, spend time with our dog, and I'll also read light-hearted fiction. 

Sensory rest ~ this is a big one for me!  Yesterday I was very pleased with myself for spending a couple of hours cleaning, and also rearranging my study, rather than being on my phone.  Then, I ended up playing games on my phone until about 11.30pm, instead of going to sleep.  My plan over Christmas is to leave my phone upstairs and read, play board games with my husband,  or do a jigsaw instead! 

Creative rest ~ it was a big surprise to me when 'creativity' came up in my top five strengths when I did the VIA test! VIA Character Strengths Survey & Character Reports  But I have realised that I love creating things!  So, a creative rest for me may involve creating something on Canva or going somewhere beautiful with the dog.  We spent last weekend by the sea, and I took the dog for a walk first thing on Saturday morning, and I became really emotional, because I never do that at home, and I wish I could!  I'd love to live by the sea!  I also love taking photographs of nature, so that's another way I can take a creative rest! 

Emotional rest ~ this allows us to not people- please!  I intend to gain emotional rest by journaling or speaking to a close friend.  I will also acknowledge how I feel, and express my feelings openly if I feel safe doing so.  

Social rest ~ this is another big one for me!  I love spending time with friends and family, but I definitely also need to spend time on my own.  I am fortunate that most of the time, I only spend time with people I choose to spend time with, but over Christmas, with family here, I may have to disappear for a little while to reset.  

Spiritual rest ~ I am not a religious person at all, but for me to gain spiritual rest, I intend to meditate and spend time in nature.  

I intend to pay more attention to my feelings and work out what type of rest I need!  And hopefully, the  Christmas break will be restful for all of us!  Merry Christmas everyone! 




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Late ADHD diagnosis

  Following my ADHD diagnosis a year and a half ago at the age of 52, so many things started to make sense. I had underachieved my whole life. Some of my most vivid memories from my childhood were of me catching up with school work while my friends were out playing. My parents insisted I catch up over weekends and holidays because I’d not studied when I should have done.  With the benefit of a diagnosis, I now know that my parents approached ‘the situation’ in completely the wrong way. In their defence, ADHD, which was know as Hyperkinetic Disease of Infancy in the 1970’s, wasn’t something considered to affect girls. Also, it’s now known that girls present differently to boys. Girls are more likely to be inattentive rather than behaving like the stereotypical hyperactive boy. What my parents and teachers saw was an intelligent child who wasn’t reaching her potential. I should add that my mum was an educational psychologist, and she used to regularly give my brother and myself ...
Read more

Understanding ADHD and Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria: Navigating Emotional Turbulence

 Living with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) often means grappling with a myriad of emotional and cognitive challenges. One particularly distressing aspect that many individuals with ADHD face is Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD). This term describes the intense emotional pain triggered by the perception of rejection or criticism. Understanding the interplay between ADHD and RSD can provide valuable insights and strategies for managing these overwhelming feelings. In this blog post, we will delve into the relationship between ADHD and RSD, explore their impact on daily life, and offer practical tips for coping and thriving. What is ADHD? ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These symptoms can vary widely in severity and often lead to difficulties in academic, occupational, and social settings. Individuals with ADHD may struggle with organization, time management, and maintaining fo...
Read more

ADHD Chronicles: When I feel like a letdown.

 We are on day five of our holiday in Turkey.  It’s just as well because it doesn’t sound as though summer is happening in the UK any time soon!  I had lots of plans for this holiday, and I am at risk of feeling as though I have let myself down.  I have attended my three ADHD coaching classes this week and done all the required preparation for them, which some people may consider going above and beyond whilst on holiday.  However, my other main plan was to write and publish two blog posts a week.  My initial goal was to blog at least weekly about what I’m learning in my ADHD coaching training, and how it is impacting on me.  I haven’t got very far with doing that yet!  That then creates a bit of a dilemma-do I go back to the beginning of my training and catch up with the backlog?  Or do I start from here, six weeks in?!  While I ponder that dilemma, I will share some of my own experiences and thoughts about ADHD.  I have definitely ...
Read more