The main part of life is the mental and physical conflict between oneself and the environment. This causes positive and negative stress, which must always be followed by rest.

 

After a busy week, you look forward to the weekend. And rightly so, because it is there to relax and should be utilised accordingly. Employers know how important the weekend of relaxation is for recharging your batteries and productivity at work.

 

Recreation means experiencing beauty that delights the soul through the senses. The cliché of idyllic nature, which is much talked about and yet longed for by everyone, is one of the best sources of relaxation. Harmony can be found in a quiet meadow, in the babbling of a stream or on a peaceful beach. A particularly beautiful sunset calms the senses and gives you a feeling of elation from which you can draw strength.

 

Some people experience a similar feeling of inner harmony by looking at a work of art, impressive architecture and the mental and physical surrender to music through liberating dancing.

 

Taking in and savouring beauty refreshes and calms the soul at the same time and conveys a positive experience. This reduces and balances stress.

 

What gives each individual a relaxing feeling of elation is very different. What seems boring or stressful for one person is a source of harmony for another. Some people like to immerse themselves in a novel and draw strength from it, while others experience the same fulfilment during a shopping spree in the city.