The Seven Types of Rest All Lawyers Need

As lawyers, we try to negotiate with rest and sleep, as if we can win.

We may even try to borrow from tomorrow’s energy to get through today.

Many of us are unsure how to recharge effectively, and find that catching up on sleep does not always help. Even when we do try to rest, we can struggle to switch off.

Part of the reason may be that we are not giving ourselves the right kind of rest.

What are the seven types of rest?

Most of us do not realise that there are seven types of rest, a framework developed by Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith.

Physical rest, for a body worn down by long hours at a desk.
Cognitive rest, for a mind that drafts, analyses and decides all day.
Sensory rest, for when notifications, screens and noise leave you wired.
Emotional rest, for when your answer is always ‘great’, even when you are not.
Social rest, for when most of your day is spent answering other people’s questions.
Spiritual rest, for when you are going through the motions.
Creative rest, for when fresh thinking feels out of reach.

You can find what each one looks like, and what helps, in the slides below.

Cover slide. Seven types of rest lawyers need. You took some time off this weekend, so why are you still tired? Click on the right to see the slides.

Sleep only answers one type of tiredness, and most lawyers are running low on several types of rest at once.

Physical rest. Recovering from long hours at a desk, with sleep, nourishing food, stretching and a lunchtime walk.

Cognitive rest. A break for a brain that drafts, analyses and decides all day, with breaks between tasks, delegating and fewer decisions.

Sensory rest. Relief from the inbox, Teams notifications, bright screens and open-plan noise.

Emotional rest. Being able to say how you really feel, with people who accept you as you are.

Social rest. Time with people who energise you and time to yourself, when most of the working day is spent answering questions.

Spiritual rest. Feeling that your work connects to something bigger, such as faith, values, purpose or the reason you chose law.

Creative rest. Room for ideas, beauty and wonder, through time in nature, music, crafts and new surroundings.

Which type of rest have you been going without the longest?

Want more support? Book a confidential discovery call to explore how coaching may help.

Credits. The seven types of rest come from the TED talk The Real Reason Why We Are Tired and What to Do About It by Dr Saundra Dalton-Smith.

Which type of rest do you need?

I hope the seven types help you to discover which kind of rest you need most, so that you have energy for your work, your life outside it, and the people who matter to you.

You may also find that binge-watching a box set is not as restful as it feels. Dr Dalton-Smith explains why in her TED talk, which lasts about 10 minutes.

Which type of rest do you think will help you the most?

If you would like some support in working out what you need, and how to make room for it in a busy working life, I offer a free, confidential 35 minute discovery call. It is simply a conversation about where you are now, with no obligation.

Book your free call

You may also find my upcoming events helpful, as many of them cover aspects of life balance.