Taking a break from the stressors of life is a good idea.

In this world people are so busy and so pressed for time that many times no leisure or pleasure time is scheduled. However, it is vital to have at least a half an hour to a whole hour of leisure time scheduled in ones’ daily planner for optimal health. Even God took a break on the seventh day of creation which should show how important it is to rest from the rigors of life. This hour of leisure time should be used only for “me” time. It can mean taking a nap when the baby is finally asleep, reading a good magazine, or watching a favorite TV show. The whole point of the leisure time is to allow the mind and body a break from the stressors of life.

It is important for good mental health to allow the body and mind to relax. I find I am able to get more accomplished when I take time out for myself. It feels much better than just rushing around all day. I used to make a whole day each week my “relax” day, however, I have too much energy these days to take the whole day off. I now make sure I spend at least an hr on leisure time each day. Often times I will read a book or magazine, sometimes I go out and grab a special flavored coffee and “people watch” and other times I’ll watch a few episodes of the Simpsons. Other common activities I focus my attention on are: swimming, going in the Jacuzzi, petting, playing with and grooming my cats, driving somewhere special such as the beach and/or watching a good movie. My body and mind feel refreshed and rejuvenated after my leisure time which allows me to be more productive.

I am focusing on productivity because American employers, in particular, seem bent on squeezing every last drop of productivity out of their workers. It is considered “bad” to take a sick day - especially if one has a cold or a mild flu. Instead of resting at home where they belong, workers force themselves to go to work so they won’t be fired for missing a day. I know that some employers DO prefer sick workers to stay home; however, it is not the norm. In other countries it is mandatory to take a month to six weeks off of work every year! I believe this whole “it’s a sin to take a break” attitude stems from the general populations view on people needing to be productive at all costs. As a result, people often feel very guilty taking time for themselves.

A good blog I found shows some of the benefits of taking time to relax. Here is the link: http://theselfimprovementblog.com/self-improvement/self-improvement-tips/benefits-of-leisure-time/  The main benefit described in this blog and on many other health related sites is that leisure time reduces stress. This is very important for mental and physical health as stress can cause all sorts of problems in the brain and body. Some of the problems are: stomach discomfort, headaches, increased blood pressure, reduced circulation of blood to muscles and brain and an increased heart rate. Therefore a decrease in stress is vital to good health. I will discuss exercise and physical activity in my next post.