5 Types Of Rest To Help Revive Your Energy, From A Functional Medicine Expert

Are you tired of being tired? After starting one of the first telehealth functional medicine clinics over 10 years ago, I found myself needing rest more than ever. Over the years of honing what that means for my life and my patients, I see that rest isn't a one-size-fits-all approach and can come in many forms that are all equally important.

Burnout is a very real thing and can come from taking on too much responsibility at once, without setting up healthy boundaries. Taking a breather is so crucial: You have to give yourself time to refill your own cup so that you have something to pour into others.

Sometimes, you just need actual sleep to feel rested. Since our society glorifies busyness, it can leave you burning the candle at both ends—too many late nights followed by early wake-up calls. Experts advise getting seven or more hours of quality, uninterrupted sleep every night to function optimally, if you aren't getting that, it's no wonder you feel exhausted all of the time.

While it can be easy to forgo time outdoors in favor of hours in front of your TV or phone, there are virtually no studies that show a link between screen time and feelings of rest. In fact, it's usually the opposite2.

In order for time spent with others to be truly refreshing, it needs to be with people around whom you can be your most whole, authentic self. While we should always strive to be ourselves in every situation, not everyone should be privy to your innermost struggles, thoughts, and feelings.

Unfortunately, there are people out there who don't have your best interests at heart, and sharing your challenges or dreams can be met with resistance, belittling, and discouragement—which can be truly exhausting to battle. Instead, spending time with those in your circle who build you up will leave you feeling rested, not drained.