Gianna's Gem: Seven Sacred Types of Rest and Why YOU & Attendees Need Them

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Hi there,

Last week, I found myself completely exhausted after what should have been an energizing high profile event. A-List celebrities, engaged VIP attendees, flawless execution in a magical setting—yet I felt utterly drained after the event wrapped. Sound familiar?

Fortunately, this wasn’t the first time I’ve experienced the post-event “partum”, and remembered Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith's revolutionary insight that “we're not just tired from lack of sleep…we're suffering from a rest deficit across seven distinct areas of our lives”. For this week’s Gianna’s Gem, I wanted to share these insights with you, in hopes it will reach you right as you need it most.

This insight completely revolutionized how I approach event design as well. Because here's what I discovered: when we understand the seven types of rest our attendees desperately need, we can create experiences that don't just inform or entertain—they genuinely restore and rejuvenate.

The Seven Sacred Types of Rest (And Why We're Getting It All Wrong)

Physical Rest isn't just about sleep. Yes, we need those precious 7-9 hours, but we also need active physical rest—gentle stretching, mindful breathing, meditation to destress the mind, and restorative movement that releases the tension we carry in our bodies.

I used to think a successful event meant keeping people engaged every single minute. Now? I intentionally build in what I call "restore and rejuvenate breaks." At a recent leadership retreat, instead of cramming in another speaker or expedition, we had a certified breathing guru lead a 10-minute gentle belly breathing session where attendees could snuggle up in comfortable rest pods, and allow their bodies to regulate and restore. The energy shift was palpable—shoulders dropped, breathing deepened, and the afternoon sessions had noticeably higher engagement and smiling, relaxed attendees.

Mental Rest is about giving our overworked minds permission to stop processing, analyzing, and problem-solving. Our brains are like smartphones constantly running apps in the background—eventually, we need to restart so they don’t crash.

Event magic happens when you create mental spaciousness. At Google events, I started scheduling what we called "wandering time" through a “Google sandbox” —short breaks where attendees could explore interactive installations without any agenda or pressure to network. No structured activities, no objectives—just permission to let their minds wander, to get inspired, and enjoy beauty and art mixed with creative technology. The feedback was incredible: "I had my best ideas during those quiet moments” which led to better networking and engagement in the subsequent sessions.

Emotional Rest means creating safe spaces where people can authentically be themselves without performing, pleasing, or managing others' emotions. It's the relief of dropping the mask we wear to navigate social and professional situations.

I love incorporating "share circles" into events—small groups of 4-12 people where participants share one genuine challenge they're facing, without advice-giving or problem-solving. Just witnessing and being witnessed. The vulnerability and connection that emerges creates a foundation of trust that transforms the entire event experience.

Spiritual Rest isn't necessarily religious—it's about connecting to something larger than ourselves, finding meaning and purpose beyond the daily grind. It's about remembering why we do what we do. For me, I find it in nature, especially when witnessing a sunset, a perfectly unfolding flower, or redwood trees that have lived for hundreds of years and risen from nothing to huge beautiful living things.

For corporate events, I try to find ways to incorporate aspects that will inspire “curiosity or awe”, be it a startlingly beautiful musical composition, art installation, nature walk, or group challenge that raises endorphins. At leadership offsites, I sometimes build in a "purpose pause"—a moment where we connect the work being discussed to its deeper impact. At a recent tech conference, instead of diving straight into product features, we began with a video montage of customers sharing how the technology had genuinely improved their lives and their communities. 

Social Rest is the difference between energy-draining interactions and energy-giving ones. It's about curating relationships and social experiences that restore rather than deplete us. I have a journal topic that prompts me to “what did I do to give back or help someone today”. This simple practice energizes me as much as it prompts me to remember to give (even a compliment or outreach to a friend who I know could use it) even when I feel most depleted. My theory is this signals to your brain that you have abundance (of time, energy, resources) which actually recharges me.

Not all networking is created equal. Consider designing "meaningful connection opportunities” instead of traditional networking sessions. Think small groups organized around shared interests or challenges, with conversation starters that go beyond "What do you do?" Questions like "What are you most excited about right now?" or "What's one thing you've learned recently?" create connections that energize rather than exhaust.

Sensory Rest is about giving our overstimulated senses a break from the constant input of lights, sounds, textures, and digital stimulation that bombard us daily. Try meditation for starters - it is an incredible way to pause and reset your nervous system so you can clear the chaos and instantly feel rejuvenated and more insightful and focused. I didn’t believe it until I tried it, and it works.

Most events are sensory assault courses—bright lights, loud music, constant chatter, overwhelming visuals and sponsors nagging you to check out their swag. I've started creating "sensory sanctuaries"—quiet spaces with soft lighting, natural textures, perhaps the gentle sound of water or instrumental music. Similarly, I try to offer different areas for watching the keynote - ancillary viewing theaters in “living room” style lounges for those who need less stimulation and the ability to feel relaxed while viewing so much intense content.

Creative Rest involves experiencing beauty and wonder without the pressure to produce or perform. It's about consuming rather than creating, appreciating rather than analyzing. More and more difficult in today’s world when if we didn’t post it on Instagram, did it exist?

I'll never forget a marketing leadership event where, instead of another case study presentation, I took everyone to a private art collection for a tour. No discussion questions, no takeaways to identify—just permission to let beauty and inspiration wash over them. Afterwards at lunch, I broke the ice by asking everyone which piece of art they appreciated most and why. It was a really authentic way of understanding what moved people and why and led to a really deep connection with our leadership team before we dug into annual planning.

How to Recognize Your Rest Deficit (The Symptoms We Ignore)

We've become so normalized to exhaustion that we've forgotten what genuine energy feels like. Here are the signs I've learned to watch for in myself and my event participants:

  • Physical Rest Deficit: You're tired even after sleeping, experience frequent headaches or muscle tension, or find yourself reaching for caffeine constantly.

  • Mental Rest Deficit: You can't turn off your thoughts at night, feel overwhelmed by simple decisions, or find your mind constantly racing even during relaxation attempts.

  • Emotional Rest Deficit: You feel like you're always "on," performing for others, or you're irritable and reactive in situations that normally wouldn't bother you.

  • Spiritual Rest Deficit: Work feels meaningless, you've lost connection to your values, or you're going through the motions without passion or purpose.

  • Social Rest Deficit: Social interactions feel exhausting rather than energizing, you're avoiding social situations, or you feel lonely even when surrounded by people.

  • Sensory Rest Deficit: You're easily overwhelmed by noise or crowds, crave quiet spaces, or feel constantly stimulated without relief.

  • Creative Rest Deficit: Everything feels mundane, you've lost appreciation for beauty, or you feel blocked and uninspired in areas where you used to feel creative flow.

Building Rest into Your Events - The Game-Changing Implementation

The magic happens when we intentionally design rest into our events rather than treating it as dead time between "real" content. Here's how I've transformed my approach:

Create Rest Stations: Designate specific areas for different types of rest. A quiet corner with comfortable seating for mental rest, a movement space for physical rest, a beauty installation for creative rest. At a recent corporate retreat, we set up seven different rest stations throughout the venue. Participants naturally gravitated to what they needed most, and the energy remained high throughout the entire three-day program.

Schedule Sacred Pauses: Build rest directly into your agenda. Not just coffee breaks, but intentional rest moments. "We're going to take 10 minutes for mental rest—feel free to step outside, find a quiet corner, or simply sit with your eyes closed." Permission to rest transforms guilt into gratitude.

Design Transitions That Restore: Instead of rushing from session to session, create transitions that naturally provide different types of rest. A walking meditation between indoor sessions provides physical and mental rest. A gratitude circle before lunch offers emotional and spiritual rest. A prompt for attendees to “check and charge” their phones during meals can help them and also encourage them to connect rather than drain their energy.

Offer Choice and Flexibility: Not everyone needs the same type of rest at the same time. Provide options during break periods—a movement class for physical rest, a meditation corner for mental rest, small discussion groups for social rest, or a quiet gallery walk for creative and sensory rest.

End Events with Restoration: Instead of the typical rushed goodbye, create closing experiences that send people home truly renewed. I've started ending events with what I call "integration circles"—small groups where participants share one insight they want to carry forward and one thing they're grateful for from the experience. I’ve also asked attendees to write down one reminder they’d like us to mail them six months from now (and we do it!)

The Ripple Effect of Restorative Events

When we design events that truly restore attendees, remarkable things happen:

  • Higher Engagement: Rested brains are creative brains. People participate more fully when they're not running on empty.

  • Better Retention: Information integrates more deeply when the mind has space to process rather than constantly consuming new input.

  • Genuine Connection: When people feel restored rather than depleted, they show up more authentically in interactions with others.

  • Positive Word-of-Mouth: Attendees don't just remember your content—they remember how they felt. Events that restore create raving fans.

  • Sustainable Impact: Instead of the typical post-event crash, participants maintain energy and enthusiasm for implementing what they've learned.

Your Rest Challenge

The most powerful feedback I've received wasn't about our keynote speaker or gourmet meals. It was from an executive who wrote: "For the first time in months, I left a conference feeling more energized than when I arrived. I didn't know that was possible."

That's the ultimate power of understanding rest. It transforms events from energy-draining obligations into energy-giving experiences that people actively seek out for metamorphosis and catharsis.

Start small. At your next meeting or event, ask yourself: "What type of rest might my attendees need most right now?" Then build in one intentional rest moment. Watch what happens.

Remember, in a world that's constantly demanding more—more productivity, more engagement, more everything—offering genuine rest isn't just nice to have, it's revolutionary. It's how we create experiences that don't just inform or entertain, but truly transform.

Your attendees are tired. Not just sleepy—soul tired. When you become the person who offers them genuine restoration, you don't just plan events, you create sanctuaries.


What I’m Loving this week:  For all my favorite vendors, partners and products, visit: https://www.giannagaudini.com/gianna-recommends

Outstanding Brand Activation: I absolutely loved the playful brand activation my client, Windsurf, pulled off last Sunday as the official sponsor of Bay 2 Breakers 2025 in San Francisco. Highlights included Flow Mile, a length of the course from Alamo Square to the Panhandle, that was decked out with Windsurf flags, tents, sails, surfboards and massive rubber ducks, where runners ran through bubbles and took pictures with the ducks, Windsurf leadership participating and clad in rubber ducky costumes. The experience and delight that it created reminded me fondly of my early days at Google where we always created a playful, quirky brand vibe at our events that embodied the startup-culture of Silicon Valley. As a distance runner and long time SF resident, it held a special place in my heart to see the fans engaged with Windsurf. You can read more and check out photos here.

keep shining (and resting),

Gianna

P.S. Want to pick my brain? 

Book me here 👉 intro.co/giannagaudini (check out the feedback from others who have worked with me as well in the reviews!)