As the leaves begin to shift and the days grow shorter, I find myself paying attention to what nature is teaching us. Fall is a season of release, of slowing down, of preparing to rest. The trees let go of their leaves without shame. The earth prepares for hibernation, knowing that winter is the deep exhale that allows for spring’s bloom.
But what about us? As women—mothers, wives, sisters, friends, community members—we are taught to be endlessly productive. We carry so much, and too often we’re only encouraged to rest when our bodies force us to. Real rest is rarely affirmed as sacred.
Recently, I came across an Instagram video (linked below) that reminded me of something powerful: there are seven types of rest. Not just sleep, not just vacation, but layered forms of restoration that our bodies, spirits, and minds crave. I want to share them here, alongside real-life ways I’m learning to invite them into my own life.
1. Physical Rest
This can be passive—like sleep or a nap—or active, like stretching, massage, or a slow yoga flow. For me, it might look like lying down after a long day of farm work, allowing my body to be still without guilt.
2. Mental Rest
Our minds are always “on.” Mental rest might mean writing down tomorrow’s to-do list so my brain can release it. Sometimes it’s as simple as turning my phone off for an hour, or allowing myself to watch the clouds instead of solving problems.
3. Sensory Rest
We live in constant stimulation: screens, noise, notifications, demands. Sensory rest might look like dimming the lights in my home, eating a meal without scrolling, or spending a few minutes in silence after my children go to bed.
4. Creative Rest
As a woman in community work and birth justice, I pour out creativity daily. Creative rest is about receiving beauty instead of producing it. I might take a slow walk in the garden, visit a farmer’s market just to enjoy the colors, or listen to music without multitasking.
5. Emotional Rest
This is one of the hardest. Emotional rest is about giving myself permission not to carry everything, all the time. It’s about being with people who see me as I am, without needing me to perform strength. It’s telling the truth about my limits.
6. Social Rest
Not all social spaces drain us—some restore us. Social rest for me is time with women who uplift me, who let me laugh and exhale. It’s also the courage to say no to spaces that leave me depleted.
7. Spiritual Rest
This is where I remember I am not alone. For me, it’s prayer, meditation, or pouring libation to honor my ancestors. It’s journaling in the quiet of the morning and feeling connected to something greater than myself.
As we step into this new season, I invite you—my sisters, my community—to reflect: how can you weave these seven kinds of rest into your daily rhythm? Which ones do you need most right now?
Take time this week to meditate, to journal, to imagine what your life would look like if rest was not just a treat but a practice. And let’s remember that we don’t have to do this alone. We heal best in community. Let’s create spaces—whether inside our homes, in our friendships, or even in the places we carry within ourselves—where we can arrive and immediately feel restored.
Because like the trees, we deserve to release, to rest, and to bloom again.
(Check out inspiration TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6Wu8T4M/ )
Sankofa Community Welness 