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The 42% rest rule most of us fail to follow

But doing so can be detrimental to our health. - by Laura Barry
  • 06 Nov 2019

While many of us think that getting a seven to eight-hour sleep in each night is adequate rest to be a fully-functioning and healthy adult, it turns out that ‘rest’ is a much broader issue – and we aren’t getting enough of it.

WATCH: comfort hacks that will help you get a better night's sleep

Sisters Emily Nagoski, Ph.D., and Amelia Nagoski, DMA, are identical twins with doctorates in opposite fields: one is a scientist, while the other is a musician, but both are teachers and writers. In fact, Emily has a PhD in Health Behavior with a minor in Human Sexuality from Indiana University.

Their book, ‘Burnout: the secret to solving the stress cycle’ was released in March this year, and it explains that humans require 42% of any 24-hour period to be spent resting, otherwise you can be putting both your physical and mental health at risk

However, resting doesn’t just mean sleep. According to their book, resting can include a number of activities, such as:

  • 8 hours of sleep (ish)
  • Half hour of stress-reducing conversation with a loved one
  • Half hour if feel-good physical activity
  • Half hour focusing on cooking, eating or shopping for food
  • Half hour of something that reinvigorates you

With that in mind, are you dedicating 42% of your time to ‘rest’?

  • Health
  • Better Life
Laura Barry
Laura Barry
Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.

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