In our stress-filled world, we often overlook the most obvious techniques to relieve tension and increase the bodies ability to relax and recover from a grueling day. http://www.livesimplicity.com/topics/relaxation-the-cure-to-a-hard-da 2007-04-16T09:21:06Z moderator http://www.livesimplicity.com/users/moderator http://www.livesimplicity.com/topics/relaxation-the-cure-to-a-hard-da#comment1 2007-03-12T17:29:14Z simpleton http://www.livesimplicity.com/users/simpleton maybe stress is part of our modern world. maybe it does drive us to do some things. but is that the way it *should* be? stress can only be tolerated for so long by the mind and body before they both give up. rest and relaxation is essential if we are to continue to strive for a more simplistic life. http://www.livesimplicity.com/topics/relaxation-the-cure-to-a-hard-da#comment2 2007-03-14T16:40:33Z Andrewww http://www.livesimplicity.com/users/andrewww I find the relaxation often isn't the best remedy. To achieve true well being there are other "secret ingredients".... Social interaction, Creative distraction and physical effort. It is often said that a healthy diet and sports help balance out a stressed job. <br><br> I don't do sports and I don't maintain a specifically healthy diet, but I feel great. What I do is make sure that I prepare tasty a slowfood meal at least 5 days a week. My girlfriend and I always eat together which is a great moment to catch up and reflect on the day. Sports where never for me, I find it a waste of time to spend an hour running after a ball or idly stare at myself while pumping weights.... pfewwww. <br><br> Next to my creatively and intellectually challenging job I tend to do a lot of heavy D.I.Y. manual labor in my spare time. The thing I love about working on my house or outside is that you actually get stuff done. At the end of the effort there's a concrete result which give me a sense of achievement. <br><br> I would love to hear other people 'alternative' secrets to a balanced life. http://www.livesimplicity.com/topics/relaxation-the-cure-to-a-hard-da#comment3 2007-03-17T07:27:15Z JBonnin http://www.livesimplicity.com/users/jbonnin Of course it is necessary to retrieve physical and emotional balance which is not allowed during the accomplishment of duties. This will change according to each individual as to each moment in life. When I'm attached to projects which demand too much, all I'll want is a good night sleep. In the past, fixing my house could be a great stress relief, as the place I live in needed a lot to be done and it was very satisfying to make it cosier. Gardening is one of the ways I relax nowadays, since the structural problems of my home were fixed. Someone whose job demands too much patience may feel the need of practicing a martial art in order to bring an emotional balance to aggressivity, for instance. We must keep the drill to make our lives fuller and balanced and not allow ourselves to accomodate to routine. Be it relaxation, a hobby, physical activity, it's up to each one to find what recovers mind and body and makes life fuller.