We’re concentrating on you in all 100 Rules in this book, and if you want to enjoy life there has to be space in it for relaxation. It’s a busy world, and there will be extended periods when that’s a commodity that’s hard to come by. So it’s important that you make the most of it.
Relaxation helps you recharge for the next onslaught of work, bills, commuting, kids, getting the shopping done, school, looking after parents, socialising, exercising and everything else that fills your day-to-day. It can be the reason you’re able to keep enjoying those things (OK, maybe not the bills). The reason you can find the energy you need the rest of the time, rather than becoming increasingly anxious and fretful and unhappy.
So however busy your life is, you need to find ways of relaxing that allow you to stay happy – all else being equal – and to find the rest of your life manageable and enjoyable. In turn, that will help the people around you to enjoy their lives without either worrying about you, or finding you stressy and hard to be around. Yep, people who never relax aren’t much fun in the long run, so you’re doing everyone a favour if you can stay chilled, at least on a normal day.