Why is rest so important?

Danielle Giddins, MD

Contributing Author

Aug. 21, 2025

3 min read

Danielle Giddins, MD has been a member of the TidalHealth family since 2008 and is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She received her medical degree from Jefferson Medical Coll...

Rest is vital to our well-being. It allows us to heal at a cellular level in both our bodies and minds. Rest helps us restore our energy and recover from the stress and strain of our day-to-day lives.

With rest, we can be more resistant to injury, have better memory, notice enhanced mood, and enjoy improved physical health. There is also less burnout, better sleep and resistance to illness.

Rest vs. sleep

Studies show that we need around 10 hours of rest per day, including a minimum of seven hours of sleep. One primary difference between sleep and rest is that we are unconscious while sleeping and conscious during rest. Ten hours may seem like a lot, but let's consider the different forms of rest that exist.

Forms of rest

We are familiar with physical rest, such as laying down or sitting. It allows our muscles to repair themselves and regulates our metabolism. Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD, created the 7 Types of Rest Framework™ and shares information about this as a speaker.

Below are some of the types of rest that people need.

Mental rest involves time when someone isn't focusing intensely or is doing something “mindless,” like folding laundry or listening to music.

Emotional rest involves doing activities that invite joy and laughter.

Sensory rest means taking a break from bright lights, loud noises or strong smells.

Creative rest can start by engaging in activities that spark your imagination or making something unique.

Spiritual rest is taking time to connect to something larger, reflecting on your sense of purpose or practicing mindfulness.

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When we don’t get enough rest, there can be negative consequences, such as emotional overwhelm with a poor mood, difficulty concentrating and staying on task, and trouble remembering or recalling details. Many physical symptoms can arise as well, including more aches and pains, frequent colds or infections, digestive issues, or more serious diseases like hypertension, diabetes or cardiovascular conditions.

Challenge yourself to find ways to get enough rest daily and maybe try to incorporate a variety of types of rest.

Need a primary care provider? TidalHealth Primary Care providers are accepting new patients.

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