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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 13, Issue 6 (September 1, 1938)

Rest and Relaxation

Rest and Relaxation.

As the busy season approaches, bringing in its train spring cleaning, jam making, preparing for holidays, etc., women who appreciate their health and appearance are well advised to learn the value of relaxation. Job after job a tired woman finds to do, which left undone would not materially affect the well-being of the home. What does affect the well-being of a home, however, is a woman with that “tired feeling,” for whom one can do nothing. She will persist in the idea that she has absolutely no time for even thirty minutes' complete rest and relaxation during the day. Of course an hour's rest would be preferable, but even 30 minutes' complete page 59 rest daily would be decidedly beneficial—both to appearance and to health.

Freshness in a woman is one of her principal assets. When anyone says “How tired you look,” the impression is immediately formed that the sympathy extended means “How plain you look.” What is the use of purchasing a new Spring hat if everyone sees it in conjunction with a tired-looking face.

Rest and relaxation! At least thirty minutes of rest and pleasurable thinking. There is not the same benefit if we rest and allow our thoughts to ponder over all the pinpricks of the day. Surely there is enough enjoyment in life to allow of thirty minutes' contemplation daily of some past, present or future pleasure! Of course “forty winks” would be a great idea, but some of us cannot say “sleep” and we sleep.

There are the people who can say to themselves: “To-morrow morning I will arise at 6.47, and they say they arise at 6.47. I often wonder if their clocks or watches are fast or slow, what happens then. Do they arise by the Town Clock or by their own clock? These people, no doubt, could say, “I will sleep from 2 o'clock until 2.30,” and hey presto, they would arise duly refreshed for their afternoon's activities.

Scientific treatment to-day tends to be concerned more and more with the prevention of disease. What chance is there, however, for the woman who wilfully neglects nature's warning—“that tired feeling”—and consistently ignores the value of rest. Scientific treatment comes in later to patch her up, when the inevitable breakdown occurs, but how much happier she would have been had she only benefited by the warning—and not only herself but the other members of the family.

Modern industry has accepted the fact that provision should be made for rest periods during the day's work. It is a recognised principle in the best conducted high-pressure businesses that these “rest periods” are absolutely necessary for all concerned. They probably represent of the employers' time about half an hour daily, but the renewed energy which they give to the employees amply repays the loss of time.

Neglect of one's health is now being looked upon as a selfish trait, instead of the old-time selflessness.