7 Types of Rest Every Work-From-Home Entrepreneur Needs
If rest feels like a luxury item on your to-do list, this episode is for you. Avoiding burnout isn't just about doing less—it's about resting on more than one level. As a work-from-home entrepreneur juggling business and family, you need more than sleep to stay energized and focused.
In this episode of Ditch the Chaos, I'm breaking down the seven types of rest every entrepreneur needs—physical, mental, social, spiritual, emotional, sensory, and creative. These aren't just nice-to-have self-care buzzwords. They're strategic tools to protect your energy, recover your focus, and create more white space in your day—because productivity should feel like peace, not pressure.
These lessons come straight from what I teach inside Chaos Detox—because sustainable productivity starts with rest as a requirement, not a reward.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- The seven types of rest every entrepreneur needs to avoid burnout
- Why sleep alone isn't enough to restore your energy (00:00:42)
- 10-minute practical ideas for each type of rest
- How to build rest into your daily routines without losing time
- Why intentional rest is a business strategy, not a luxury
- Physical rest: stretching, power naps, and gentle movement (00:02:00)
- Mental rest: brain dumps, single-tasking, and reading fiction (00:03:00)
- Social rest: protecting your energy during holiday season (00:04:24)
- Spiritual rest: meditation, gratitude, and grounding practices (00:05:00)
- Emotional rest: journaling, therapy, and honest conversations (00:05:55)
- Sensory rest: reducing screen time and visual clutter (00:06:15)
- Creative rest: inspiration walks and creativity for fun (00:07:00)
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Want to read the original blog post that inspired this episode?
CLICK HERE → Avoid Burnout: 7 Types of Rest for Busy Work-from-Home Entrepreneurs
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Mentioned in this episode:
• Kindle Unlimited – my go-to for fiction that helps me mentally unplug
• The Five Minute Journal – a quick way to practice gratitude and presence
• My favorite Yoga + Power Nap tracks – simple tools that make physical rest easy
Full Episode Transcript
(30) 7 Types of Rest Every Work-From-Home Entrepreneur Needs
[00:00:00] If you've ever felt like rest is a luxury item on your to-do list, this episode is for you. Because what if avoiding burnout isn't about just doing less, but about resting on more than one level?
[00:00:17] Welcome to Ditch the Chaos, a podcast for women who are tired of holding their life and business together with duct tape and coffee.
[00:00:24] I'm Cara Chace, entrepreneur, mom, and recovering people pleaser who learn the hard way that most productivity advice assumes. Your day goes according to plan, which we know never happens on this podcast. We're figuring out how to run your business without running yourself into the ground. Let's get to it.
[00:00:42] As a work from home entrepreneur, juggling a thriving business and a busy household, finding time to rest can feel like a luxury you simply can't afford. Switching. Laundry happens right before the client call. Emails are written in the school pickup line. Focus blocks of work [00:01:00] might not happen until the house is quiet for the evening, and while taking time to rest in the midst of life context, switching seems impossible.
[00:01:09] It's essential, and not just the kind that involves sleep, but a more comprehensive, multifaceted approach that rejuvenates your entire being. We're going to talk about seven different types of rest that are crucial for busy entrepreneurs like you, the ones who are building their dream businesses while building their dream life, and managing it all through the never ending chaos.
[00:01:33] Understanding how to rest by doing more than just going to sleep can help you avoid burnout, stay productive, and actually maintain a sense of balance and harmony. Let's talk about them. The first up is physical rest, and this one goes beyond just getting a good night's sleep. It's about activities that help your body recover and restore energy, so things like taking a short stretching break [00:02:00] between work to-dos to release tension. Especially in your neck, shoulders, and back. If you sit at a desk that can really help. Or a quick 15 to 20 minute power nap can be a total game changer. It is for me, especially on days when you're running on fumes. The key for this that I've learned is actually getting up when the timer goes off or you risk slipping into that second sleep cycle and waking up feeling worse.
[00:02:25] You can also spend 10 to 15 minutes in the morning or evening doing gentle yoga to unwind and stay flexible. I love a five minute full body stretch. You don't even have to do 15. It's perfect for anyone who sits at a desk or a screen all day, and I have a go-to power nap track that helps me reboot during that afternoon energy dip.
[00:02:45] I have links to my favorite power nap track and five minute stretch in the show notes. Next up is mental rest. This one is all about giving your brain a break from the constant demands of work and life. [00:03:00] Try taking five minute mindful breathing breaks to clear your head, especially after intense work sessions, instead of juggling everything at once.
[00:03:11] Block time for single tasking. Letting your mind concentrate on one thing at a time that reduces that exhausting mental overwhelm of context Switching. And before bed. Spend 10 minutes on a brain dump, or you can do this at the end of your workday. Jot down your thoughts, ideas to-dos what you need to tackle the next day.
[00:03:33] It will quiet your mind and help you sleep better. And unplug for the evening and honestly read fiction. Yeah, not business books, not personal development. Those still feel like work, even if they're interesting. Read something just for fun. Get lost in a story. It gives your mind the kind of rest it can't get elsewhere.
[00:03:55] I read about 50 books a year thanks to Kindle Unlimited, [00:04:00] and I have linked that in the show notes as well.
[00:04:02] Next, let's talk about social rest. This is especially relevant this time of year when this podcast publishes. It's the beginning of December, so we're smack dab in the middle of holiday, get together season. Social rest is about spending time with people who restore your energy and limiting time with people or events that drain it.
[00:04:24] It's about deep conversations with your favorite people, not forced small talk at networking events. If you have to attend that work holiday party, fine, but don't accept every invitation that comes across your plate this time of year. Prioritize time with friends and family who genuinely uplift you.
[00:04:44] Another aspect of social rest is giving yourself 15 to 30 minutes of quiet time daily. No conversation, no social anything, no screens. Just you recharging quietly. Then there's spiritual rest. [00:05:00] This type of rest helps you reconnect with something bigger than yourself. It's where grounded, spaciousness, peace and purpose live.
[00:05:09] Start your day with a short meditation to center yourself. Write down three things you're grateful for every day. These are all the small things that usually go unnoticed and slip through the cracks. Try nature walks. Step outside your four walls and remember the world is still spinning just fine without you being at your desk or spend a few moments in prayer if that's your practice.
[00:05:33] These rituals are grounding and they don't take a lot of time. I've linked my favorite journal for gratitude Practice the five minute Journal in the show notes. Next up we have emotional rest. This means allowing yourself to express what you actually feel without editing or apologizing. And I don't mean burning it all down in a relationship sometimes.
[00:05:55] Really what you need to do is journal to help you process emotions and notice [00:06:00] patterns. Therapy or counseling can give you a safe space to unpack what's really going on under the surface, and sometimes emotional rest is as simple as having an honest conversation with someone you trust. No performing, no people pleasing, just being real.
[00:06:15] then comes sensory rest. This one is huge. If you live on screens like most of us do, or you're addicted to your phone. It's about reducing overstimulation from noise notifications and visual clutter. Try scheduling screen free time throughout the day, especially in the evenings. Take intentional breaks from social media so your brain can recalibrate from the constant scroll.
[00:06:41] Create quiet breaks. Literally step outside or sit somewhere calm for a few minutes and simplify your workspace. Clear the physical clutter so your senses aren't constantly processing chaos. And finally, creative rest. This kind of rest reawakens [00:07:00] your sense of wonder and inspiration. You get lost in it.
[00:07:04] Do something creative just for fun, like paint, doodling, writing, playing music, whatever lights you up. Take inspiration walks in beautiful places like a park, a museum, even your neighborhood. As long as you're being present and paying attention
[00:07:19] When you start integrating these seven types of rest into your days, you'll realize it's not just about avoiding burnout or getting sleep. It's about refilling your creative and emotional reserves so you can show up better for everything else. Here's your reset and reclaim action step for the week.
[00:07:38] Pick one type of rest from this list that you've been neglecting or have just never thought of. Schedule it in for 10 minutes a day this week. Set an alarm on your phone if you have to. The goal isn't perfection, it's simply awareness and consistency.
[00:07:54] Rest isn't something you earn after working hard enough. It's something you need to [00:08:00] sustain the life and business you're building. The more you practice these small forms of rest, the more energy focus and creativity you'll have left for what actually matters. Thanks for tuning in. If this episode helped you subscribe so you never miss an update and share it with another woman who needs to hear it.
[00:08:19] Do you wanna go deeper? Learn more about the Chaos Detox course@CaraChace.com. Until next time, I'm Cara Chace reminding you to keep questioning the rules and making your own.
