FEELING BURNT OUT? DISCOVER THE 7 TYPES OF REST THAT WILL REVIVE YOUR SPIRIT

IT’S THAT time of year again when were caught between tying up loose ends and trying not to tie ourselves in knots.

- VUYILE MADWANTSI

The final months often feel like a mad sprint: deadlines at work, family demands, exams, school runs and the constant hum of WhatsApp groups.

No wonder so many of us arrive at December utterly depleted.

If you're feeling that heavy brain fog, the short fuse, the constant tiredness that even a weekend lie-in doesn't fix, you're not alone.

Burnout is real, and it's more common than we think. The World Health Organization has officially classified burnout as an “occupational phenomenon’, warning that unchecked stress can lead to exhaustion, negativity and lower productivity.

But here's a thought worth holding onto: maybe the antidote isn't doing more or pushing through, it’s learning to rest better.

The rest deficit no one talks about

When we think of “rest”, we usually think of “sleep”. But according to Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith, a US-based physician and the author of Sacred Rest, sleep alone won't cut it.

Her research highlights seven types of rest we all need to keep burnout at bay: physical, mental, sensory, creative, emotional, social, and spiritual rest.

A nap is nice, but if you're still waking up tired, you might be missing one of the other six.

1. Physical rest