Rethinking Relaxation

Relaxation seems to commonly be thrown in as one of the three “R”s, it’s other two more literal bed fellows being Rest and Recuperation.

Whilst I am a big fan of nighttime Rest and Recuperation, through good quality sleep, Relaxation has never seemed like a low energy activity.

For me Relaxation is anything which takes away stress, reduces the chatter in my head or an activity which invokes the Flow State.

Relaxation therefore becomes a focused distraction.

This is very different from “switching off”, for example by watching mind-numbing television or death scrolling Instagram. Personally I don’t find either of these activities relaxing, although they are very distracting.

Many people seem to find my definition of relaxing slightly confusing. I will tell them how relaxing my Saturday has been, going for a 20 km jog in the snow.

It is very rare that I will not find the energy reserves to go and do relaxing sporting activities.

Do not get me wrong, relaxation does not have to be high octane and burning lots of calories. Yet I would very much reinforce the notion that it should be with focused attention instead of distraction.

To dance alone to a favourite piece of music, to get caught up in a fantastic book, to sit, sew and repair damaged but much-loved bits of clothing….. I find these things relaxing at a slower pace of life.

Doggies: Nelli, Stella, Mino and Freia