Watching TV is relaxing. I woke up on a Saturday morning and resumed watching the movie “The Flash.” Yes, I’m into superheroes. It was a cold, cozy morning, and I didn’t want to do anything else. After an hour, relaxation turned into boredom, then tiredness. Things that had been at the back of my mind started coming to the forefront, such as cooking lunch, hitting the gym, reading books, and writing journal entries. Without spending any more time watching the movie, I switched off the TV and went straight into the kitchen.
After 30 minutes of work, I completed the meal prep for the entire day. It was 11 AM by then, and I decided to go to the gym. It turned out to be one of the best sessions I’ve had in a long time: a 45-minute treadmill run, followed by 10 minutes of yoga, and then 35 minutes of lifting. I picked up groceries on my way home. By 2 PM, I had checked off all the things that had been on my mind.
Then I felt relaxed. It’s ironic, isn’t it? Sweating in the gym and cutting vegetables are chores. What’s there to relax about? Well, there is something. You can’t truly relax if you have pending core tasks. The feeling of relaxation lasts only until those tasks come to the forefront. In fact, it might turn into regret – regret for wasting valuable morning hours.
Relaxation involves both your body and mind. If your body has to compromise later because of unhealthy eating, it’s not genuine relaxation; it becomes regret. The beautiful thing about relaxation is that it feels so good in the moment, but it can feel so bad later if not done right. I prefer relaxation when it’s earned – earned by completing essential tasks for your body and mind. It may mean different things for different people. If you’ve been working all week to take care of your body and mind, then you’ve earned your relaxation. Some people confuse relaxation with procrastination; they postpone relaxation when they should be earning it.
Don’t let today’s relaxation become tomorrow’s regret. It’s so much more satisfying “after” you’ve put in the work.
Gagan
