The Virtual Couch

The Virtual Couch


"Sacred Rest” Author Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith: How to Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, and Restore Your Sanity

January 04, 2024

Did you know there are several different types of rest beyond just sleeping? Coming from a 'we don’t know what we don’t know' standpoint, today’s episode has the potential to be both a game-changer and life-changing as we unveil how identifying and fulfilling these diverse types of rest can revolutionize your health, happiness, and productivity. Tony Overbay, LMFT, interviews Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith about her book 'Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity' (https://amzn.to/3TFp6GZ). They discuss the critical distinction between sleep and rest, amplified through Dr. Saundra’s 'Seven Types of Rest' framework. Dr. Saundra shares the seven types of rest she has found lacking in the lives of those she encounters in her clinical practice and research - physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, sensory, social, and creative - and explains why a deficiency in any one of these types of rest can have unfavorable effects on your health, happiness, relationships, creativity, and productivity. This episode highlights the importance of self-care and the need to become a personal health advocate. Dr. Saundra shares her experiences with burnout, which led to an emphasis on rest in her life. They discuss issues related to work-life balance and the over-reliance on screens and identify areas for enhancing rest that most people aren’t aware of. Then, Tony took Dr. Saundra’s 'rest quiz' and reviewed the results. You can find the Rest Quiz at https://www.restquiz.com/quiz/rest-quiz-test/


00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections on Sleep

01:31 Historical Figures and Their Sleep Patterns

02:25 The Misconceptions and Judgments Around Sleep

04:11 Personal Struggles with Sleep and Introduction of Guest

05:21 Taking the Rest Quiz and Discussing the Results

06:29 Introduction to Dr. Saundra Dalton and Her Work

06:36 Debunking Common Myths About Sleep

09:10 The Importance of Different Types of Rest

11:14 The Impact of Sensory Overload on Rest

12:49 The Role of Spiritual Rest in Overall Wellbeing

14:14 The Importance of Emotional and Social Rest

36:21 The Personal Journey Towards Understanding Rest

37:17 Sharing the Secret to Happiness at Work

37:22 Identifying Your Rest Deficit

37:46 Taking the Rest Quiz

38:44 Personal Journey and Motivation

40:17 Navigating the Healthcare System

40:43 Taking Control of Your Health

42:39 Unexpected End of Interview

43:06 Bonus: Taking the Rest Quiz Live

01:08:38 Interpreting the Rest Quiz Results

01:12:57 Conclusion and Recommendations



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