While people nowadays do not necessarily work more than decades ago, the stress level seems to be significantly higher for most of us. The number of responsibilities an average person has to deal with is larger than ever and the world has simply become a more complicated place. 

Technology has played a major role in bringing about this situation. While as recently as 15 years ago the postman would bring good or bad news once a day, one is now reachable by E-mail, SMS, MSN and mobile phone 24 hours a day. And since modern technology has made us so reachable, one is expected to respond accordingly. MSN and SMS must be answered nearly on the spot and an E-mail normally within a day. While years ago expensive telephone lines around the globe still offered a certain "protection", free or cheap services like SKYPE make sure that your customer or business partner at the other side of the globe can be in touch with you as often as he likes. In addition globalization played its part too. Not only have the number of markets one can deal with increased, depending where your customers are in this world, you just have a time slot of a couple of hours to communicate with them.
All this is certainly not always a blessing and for sure one of many reasons why most of us have a relatively high stress level. The fact is that those potential sources of stress are unlikely to disappear in the near future. On the contrary, we will have to adjust to it. Therefore it is not surprising that people look for different and efficient means to relax and that the health and recreation industry is booming. There is hardly any established hotel or travel agency which does not offer a health program as part of its services. The number of choices for outdoor activities such as mountain biking, rollerblading and Nordic walking has multiplied in recent years. But how can we relax in the right way? Only too often the circumstances don't allow the relaxation of choice since either the facility or surrounding is not suitable or there is simply not enough time left. So you may have to schedule it or make compromises. The right way to relax is probably as individual as people are. Important is the awareness that unwinding from time to time will bring a positive contribution to all aspects of your life. Whether it be walking the dog in the forest, playing with your child, boating, swimming, when you come back the world will still be as hectic as before, but you may have gained the strength to deal with it...

Best Regards
Andrzej Wojtas (Ph.D.), Chief Editor MFN

andrzej@mfn.li

Author: Andrzej Wojtas (Ph.D.)