2. Rest means different things for different people

Rest should never come with a sense of pressure, Hammond explains. For example, if a rest is enforced, it won’t feel relaxing in the way that it should: which explains why many people may be unable to rest – and instead feel constantly stressed – under furlough.

In a similar vein, some of us may have felt pressure to take part in “restful” activities such as baking banana bread, or learning another language, under the first round of lockdowns earlier this year; to “do lockdown well”. But – while many people do indeed find baking and learning new skills relaxing – it won’t count as a rest unless it truly feels that way to you.

Another good example is simply doing nothing. While this did rank as a form of relaxation in the Rest Test, Hammond acknowledges that some people find sitting alone quite stressful (an extraordinary study on the topic found volunteers actually preferred having mild electric shocks to being alone with their thoughts for a period of time).

Whether it’s gardening, painting or pottering, it’s entirely up to you to choose the activities that allow your mind to wander, and feel rested.

5 powerful truths about rest from Claudia Hammond to leave you relaxed and restored