Take out time to rest

All beings have been pre-programmed to balance work and rest. Man’s constitution, like most other beings, is made to work during the day and rest at night. Sleep, especially at night, rejuvenates and refreshes us. However, with the discovery of electricity, we play night cricket, indulge in late night TV-watching, study, eat and so on. This artificial lifestyle has a negative effect on our body and mind.

These days, we hear of young CEOs with huge pay packets, jet-setting around the world, working nonstop. Their success stories are featured in top business magazines. Many of them suffer from peptic ulcers, become workaholics, and very soon get “burnt-out” or talk of retiring by 30. They are advised to slow down, and when they do not do so, their health grounds them. We hear of cases where the heart, created by God to last 200 years, stops at 30!

Strangely, no one except the boss is happy with someone who works all the time. Such people are under constant stress, their family is dissatisfied, the children never see the parent and the spouse is disgruntled. Colleagues are envious and friends are non-existent. What is the use of success when there is no happiness, peace, health or harmony in our life? Some people do not know how to rest or relax. They are by nature restless and agitated. Some sleep with their mobile phones in bed and are disturbed throughout the night by unimportant message tones. Some feel guilty to be caught resting.

Of course, there are many of us, who follow the law of inertia and refuse to work until they are pushed to do so. In conclusion: Do not work “relentlessly” or with less rest and also do not rest “worklessly” or with less work. The body and mind will be of no use if we misuse, abuse or disuse them.

The author is an acharya of the Chinmaya Mission