Finding Rest in the Modern World

The Rest Test is an online survey of rest and is part of a ground breaking collaboration of artists, scientists and historians known as Hubbub, looking at the elusive quality of rest in our modern world. For the last two years Hubbub’s been exploring the dynamics of rest, noise, activity and work in the arts, everyday life, neuroscience and mental health. BBC Radio 4, BBC World Service and Hubbub launched the Rest Test in November last year and more than 18,000 people from 193 countries took part. It’s the biggest survey of what rest means globally.
Claudia Hammond and guests including poet Lemn Sissay and comedian Robin Ince, reveal the results. What are the most restful activities and which country is the most rested?

(Photo caption: Claudia Hammond resting at Mile End Art Pavilion © Geraldine Fitzgerald/BBC)