Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity

This book is so gentle and kind that it is like taking a rest in itself, just to listen to it while I take a walk in the woods. Thanks

What a wonderful read. Great ways to help people learn that there are more than one way to rest our minds. I love creative rest. Great read.

I enjoyed this book so much, and found it so helpful, that I bought copies for friends for Christmas. I wasn't really sure what to expect but, being busy and tired during the Christmas season, the title caught my eye. It proved to be much more than I was expecting! Most of us think we are "resting" when we are sleeping. Too many times we think that we don't have time for adequate rest or we may misinterpret setting aside the time as selfish. The author addresses these concerns. If you're like me, you will see yourself in many of the excuses as well as the case studies. This book expands the idea of rest well beyond sleeping, physical stillness, or "down-time." It is divided into short, easy-to-read and understand chapters which explain, give examples of, and encourage self-introspection into physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, sensory, and creative rest. While the author writes from an obvious Christian perspective, there is nothing overbearing or nonscientific in her writing. Being a physician, she has witnessed and testifies to evidence and to numerous case studies of consequences of deficiency in the various forms of rest. She actually incorporates scientific/medical evidence to support her claims and observations. Overall. the author does a masterful job in blending the tones of a best friend, your physician, and a spiritual mentor into one helpful conversation and motivational tool. I was especially encouraged by the second half of the book where Dr, Dalton-Smith goes into more details explaining the gifts we receive as we observe a more rested life...gifts including: boundaries, reflection, freedom, acceptance, and productivity. I also like the additional resources including the Personal Rest Deficit Assessment Tool and the link to a Thirty Day Sacred Rest Challenge. I definitely recommend this book for personal study and reflection, self-help, and spiritual growth. Also makes a great gift!

A friend recommended "Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity" by Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD. I looked on Amazon and liked the book cover. The calm water, wooden dock, and stealth fog piqued my interest. I appreciated chapter 6, “Emotional Rest,” and Dalton-Smith’s reference to a banking metaphor to reflect the bottom line of our emotional reserves. When we make an emotional withdrawal that exceeds the balance of our emotional bank account, we can experience fatigue. Like a bank account plummeting toward zero, our reserves can deplete until we build up our energy resources and reach our full capacity once again. At times in certain chapters, Dalton-Smith’s switching between first and third person was slightly distracting, but all in all, the important subject matter increased my engagement and kept me turning pages. My favorite chapter was chapter 8, “Social Rest.” The vivid imagery of shared intimacy inside the hospital room between Dalton-Smith and a female patient touched me. The patient's gaze studied Dalton-Smith. Looking into each other’s eyes, both women shared a common experience of loneliness. Dalton-Smith provides a list of feelings and indicators that help readers discern if they suffer from a lack of social rest. While the book is highly insightful, chapter 8—and the book as a whole—would have benefited from three short, concrete action steps readers could practice to alleviate their lack of social rest. This would provide a practical addition beyond the general advice to prioritize face-to-face time, listen and learn, and nurture the need to connect, each followed by a large paragraph of suggestions. If you liked "Sacred Rest: Recover Your Life, Renew Your Energy, Restore Your Sanity" by Saundra Dalton-Smith, MD, you will likely appreciate "Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life" by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. Other excellent recommendations include "Freedom of Surrender: Forty Devotions for a Joyful Life in Christ" by Mary DeMuth and "The Lies That Bind: Reclaiming Your Worth by Embracing God's Truth" by Tara Johnson.

This is by far one of the most helpful books I’ve read. I highly recommend it for anyone struggling with people pleasing or constantly overfilling their schedule. The author is a wonderful writer who incorporates Christianity throughout the entirety of the book.

Excellent read with relevant practical application. Used this as a staff. Read at a faith-based nonprofit.

I really like this book. This topic is a hot one today and we all feel the need for more rest and healthy rest. I appreciate her honesty as a doctor and mom in her vulnerable sharing and truthful biblical explanations. I heard her speak at a conference, bought the book and started reading it. Then felt prompted to have our church small group read it too. Everyone has been able to relate to the topics and we discuss the hard issues in each chapter. I wish the publisher would publish a workbook or study guide. The one on amazon is NOT endorsed by the author. I recommend this book and share it all the time.

This book has a lot of good content but is also intensely religious.

Good

This book is amazing. I will be keeping this and read again. I’ve recommended this to friends and family

Bien redactado, aunque con citas bíblicas lo cual no espero de un doctor ni médico. Lectura amena pero concisa. Con contenido útil y práctico para el ejercicio del descanso

I thought the classification of fatigues was an interesting concept. The interest of the book stops there, however. I can t relate to the endless references to God and the Scriptures, 'Sacred' has a different meaning to me. The ensuing advice in the book is mere common sense, nothing new there. Plain boring.

This book changed the way I view rest. I am determined now to pursue a life of rest and I feel empowered to do so. There is hope for the weary and busy. Read this book and find the hope you need in the midst of your busy life.