Getting physical rest means allowing your body to “recover from overexertion and avoid injury,” says Dr. Jade Wu, Mattress Firm’s sleep health expert, Ph.D., DBSM. Whether you’re sleeping or napping, physical rest gives your body a chance to heal and fight off pathogens that can cause illness. Your home is an ideal place for physical rest since it has amenities like protection from extreme temperatures and weather conditions, fresh drinking water, a place to shower or take a bath, and comfy places to lie down and recuperate. 

One way to promote physical rest is by practicing minimalism and reducing material possessions. “Fewer items in the home provide fewer opportunities for clutter and accumulation of allergens,” Wu explains. Examples of physical rest include:

• Sitting still or lying down in a rest corner
• Getting a massage
• Taking a bath
• Using good-quality bedding 
• Doing gentle stretches before bedtime