rest /relax

[Verona_82]

Hello,

I'd like to ask a question about 'rest' and 'relax'. Russian learners tend to use 'rest' a lot, even when talking about things that require substantial physical activity, for example:

-What did you do yesterday?
-Oh, we had a rest [= they went to their dacha, rode their bikes, made kebab, planted some vegetables etc).

According to dictionary entries, it is not the best word for such contexts. I was told once that 'rest' = 'sleep or do nothing". Is 'relax' any better? :-?

I'd appreciate it if somebody could help.

Many thanks.

 

[5jj]

-What did you do yesterday?
-Oh, we had a rest [= they went to their dacha, rode their bikes, made kebab, planted some vegetables etc). any thanks.

Typical BrE answers might be:

Nothing special
Not a lot

For my son's generation (25-35), the response appears to be:

(We) chilled

 

[Verona_82]

Thanks!

In what contexts would it be ok to use 'rest'? Is reading a book/watching TV/wasting time online a kind of 'rest'?