Rest Hard, Play Hard

The 3 Types of Rest You Need for Long-Term Health and Performance

It’s easy to overlook the importance of rest. After all, we champion those who work hard to achieve their goals. We honor the “hustle”.

Certainly, hard work is something to be valued. But too much (like too little) of anything can also lead to problems. 

A lack of work/rest balance can burn you out over time. In more extreme cases, it can lead to chronic illness, injuries, and disease. 

In the world of strength and conditioning, there are 3 types of rest that athletes use to maintain peak performance. But these can also be applied to non-athletes. They can support our daily activities at work and play. 

The following are the 3 types of rest you need to maximize productivity and achieve long-term health, vitality, and success. 

1. Active Rest

Active rest consists of lower intensity levels in your primary activity. This might include reducing your work hours or delegating some of your responsibilities to others. 

This decreases the load you place on your body and mind each day. Active rest allows you to continue working on your primary objectives while helping you achieve greater recovery, more efficiency, and improved work performance. 

2. Passive Rest

Passive rest consists of activities outside of your primary one. It's taking time off to focus on other endeavors like traveling abroad or learning a new skill. 

Passive rest allows you to condition your body and mind in new ways. It opens up new insights that you can apply to your work and give your body more varied stimulation for movement.

For many, passive rest results in a broader experience from which they can draw new solutions to existing problems. 

Passive rest can be as simple as going for a walk or hike, meditating, or taking a vacation. It doesn’t matter if it’s 10 minutes or 10 days. There are many ways to engage in passive rest. 

3. Total Rest

Sometimes you just need to completely step away from everything.

Total rest indicates a break from all activities like working out, sports, work, study, and travel. It's the foundation of your recovery from the stress of life. 

But total rest can also be the most difficult to apply. We often feel guilty for “just doing nothing”. It’s the antithesis of the hustle. 

But that doesn’t take away from its value to your long-term wellbeing and performance. In fact, in order to achieve true success in the long-run, you must be willing to fully step away—even if just for a short period of time.  

Which Type of Rest Do You Need?

Determining which type of rest you need is up to you. Every person is unique, and we all face different levels and types of stress. 

Keep in mind that all three types of rest have their time and place. We first have to be honest about what our own needs are if we want to manage our bodies and minds in a way that supports our life goals. 

Hopefully, this gives you a basic understanding of the different ways you can begin to do that. Knowing how to apply the principle of rest is fundamental to performing at your best each and every day. 

Image source: By Victor Gilbert [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons; Modifed