7 kinds of rest to fend off burnout

Burnout is a constant danger for fundraisers, and the risk is especially acute amidst the current chaos.

Performing at your best and crushing those goals needs to be paired with self-care. Self-care requires rest, clear boundaries, and more.

This post focuses on rest. Boundaries will be the topic of a future post.

Here’s the hard truth: Many of us have no idea how to rest and recharge. We’re too busy hustling for worthiness (h/t Brené Brown). Our jobs become our identities. We blur “productivity” with “value.” Rest feels indulgent, or worse — lazy.

But here’s the kicker: rest is not vegging out on a beach with a Mai Tai or binge-watching all six seasons of The Crown (although, no judgment — I’ve done both).

Real rest is intentional. It’s restorative. And it comes in flavors you might not expect.

My favorite guide to rest and restoration is Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith’s framework: The Seven Kinds of Rest. Each of us requires a different mix, in different amounts, depending on the season we’re in.

My personal go-to is what Dr. Dalton-Smith calls creative rest:

“Creative rest reawakens the awe and wonder inside each of us. Do you recall the first time you saw the Grand Canyon, the ocean or a waterfall? Allowing yourself to take in the beauty of the outdoors — even if it’s at a local park or in your backyard — provides you with creative rest.”

For me, it’s stepping into nature with a camera in hand. It’s watching birds. Or diving a coral reef. It’s remembering that beauty still exists in this aching, burning world — and letting it in.

But creative rest is just one piece of the puzzle.

Here are the other six:

1. Physical Rest

This one seems obvious, but it’s not just sleep. There’s passive physical rest (such as sleep and napping) and active physical rest—gentle yoga, stretching, massage, and breathwork. Things that help your body unclench. (Fundraiser shoulders? You know what I mean.)

2. Mental Rest

Ever lie in bed, and your brain won’t shut up? You might need mental rest. Mental rest means taking regular breaks throughout the day, setting clearer limits on meetings, and giving your mind space to step away from problem-solving for a minute. Think white space. Think breathing room.

3. Sensory Rest

Zoom fatigue? Constant pings, dings, and digital noise? Sensory overload is real. Sensory rest is about unplugging — turning off the screens, the Slack, the notifications, even the music. Closing your eyes. Letting silence be enough.

4. Emotional Rest

This one hits hard. Emotional rest means having the space to be honest — to not perform, not smile through it, not pretend you’re fine. It means talking to someone who won’t judge or fix, just hold. It’s saying, “I’m not okay,” and letting that be true for a moment.

5. Social Rest

Some relationships drain us. Others fill us up. Social rest is about knowing the difference — and choosing time with people who nourish you. It might also mean no people at all, if that’s what you need right now. (Introverts, this is your permission slip.)

6. Spiritual Rest

Spiritual rest doesn’t have to mean religion. Spiritual rest is the feeling of being connected to something bigger than yourself — nature, purpose, art, God, community, mystery. It’s remembering that you’re not alone, and that you matter.

So what kind of rest do you actually need?

Take a breath. Check in. Be honest with yourself.

You don’t need to earn your rest. You don’t need to justify it.

In fact, your most courageous work, your clearest strategy, and your deepest compassion depend on it.

This isn’t fluff. It’s fuel.

Go rest. For real.