In his book, Focal Point, Brian Tracy tells us that proper rest and relaxation is one of the main ingredients to superb health and fitness.  But what exactly is “proper” rest and relaxation?

Coming off a one-week vacation, I must admit that at the time I am writing this I don’t feel very rested.  My husband and I came back from our vacation one day early because we were, well, tired.

I will give us credit though, for being able to recognize when it’s time to come home.  We used to push ourselves to “have fun” right up to the end.  Needless to say, that never worked.  We also used to travel at the last minute, having to go back to work the day after we arrived home.  We learned that also wasn’t good for the ol’ body, mind, or spirit.

So now we deliberately plan an extra day to rest after the trip before going back to work, and if either of us gets too tired to finish the journey, we just come on home.  Granted, that’s easier to do if you’re driving rather than flying, but at the very least, you can relax in your hotel room prior to your flight.

As I was reflecting on this past week and making notes of how I would change future vacations to make them more to my liking, I realized that I’ve developed habits that implement a lot of the concepts that Brian Tracy talks about in Focal Point.  For example, he says,

“Take at least one full day from work each week.  On this day, you discipline yourself to do absolutely nothing associated with work.”

Growing up in a fundamental Christian (old testament) household, where “working on Sunday” was forbidden, this concept is not difficult for me to visualize.  However, having a Type A personality where I constantly feel a need to be active, I find this works best for me if I take half a day on Saturday, and half on Sunday.  What’s important, is to feel re-energized, refreshed, and re-charged.  (Okay, that’s not what old-testament Christians are worried about, but that’s another blog post!)

Considering that we are all different, there are probably as many different ways to rest and relax as there are people in the world.  But most would agree that it is imperative to your overall well-being and creativity, to find ways to recharge your personal batteries on a regular basis.  Tracy says,

“The more rested you are, the brighter, sharper, more alert, and more productive you will be at your work and in every other area of your life.  You will get more done by taking more time off.”

Here, then, are some ways to rest, relax, rejuvenate, refresh, and recharge.

Set aside a certain amount of time each day to read, watch television, or meditate.  This is your time, so do what feels good to you.  And those are the most important words:  “feels good.”  If you read very much on self-improvement and motivation, you might be surprised at my suggestion to watch television.  I agree that our media is so negatively biased that watching the news and many current programs is a bad idea.  However, there are still shows and movies in existence that are uplifting and will help get your mind off bothersome things.  So watch those things that you make you feel good and don’t let one drop of guilt seep in.  The television itself is not a bad thing; it’s what some people choose to do with it that hinders individual success.

Do whatever is necessary to get your proper amount of sleep each night.  Some people need only 4 hours, while others need 10.  Most people know how much sleep they need to feel good and on top of their game the next day.  Do whatever it takes to get that much sleep on a regular basis.  Go to bed early, take a nap, don’t take a nap – you know what I’m getting at here – just do it.

Take mini-vacations as often as possible.  Some people take a short vacation every calendar quarter.  Taking 3-5 days four times per year helps them feel more energized than a longer vacation once per year.  If you tire out after a few days, try this concept.

Be sure to get plenty of exercise and drink enough water.  Experts tell us that often our tiredness can be directly linked to dehydration and/or laziness.  Make sure that’s not the case with you – take walks, drink fresh, clean water, get out in the sunshine, be active.  Few things are as recharging to me as a nice, long, hike in the wilderness.  Just be sure, if you’re hiking in the heat of summer, (even in Canada), to take plenty of bug repellent!

You can subscribe to this blog here.

GET CONTROL OF YOUR LIFE NOW If you’d like to read all my latest success tips and how I’ve applied 20 years of solid business principles and the law of attraction to acquiring the life of my dreams, and am helping others do the same, you’ll want your own copy of Wake Up and Create the Life You Want: A Guide to Self-Empowerment. It comes with my free report on “The Science of Getting Rich.”  Both are downloadable, so you get them immediately.

Posted under Education, Inspiration, Law of Attraction, Motivation, Success