In India, mostly executives and business owners work long hours. I have seen people (and i include myself) working 10 hrs or more daily and upto 70 hrs every week.
In this age of technology, one is always connected. Messages are continuously been seen, mails being replied , people being called or calls being received whether you are in office or home.
Most of the times it is very difficult to switch on and off from work. Thoughts go on seamlessly, continuously. It is when one thought is replaced by another, that we call it a change.
Normally, I see people going to gym to melt their stress away or to a club or watch TV at home. These are all the examples of imposing one situation over another or substituting one thought over the another in the hope that mind is relaxing. Reality is otherwise and so we get up mid night, keep tossing in bed, get up in the morning in tense state of mind etc.
Our Indian mind-body-balance system suggests that there is nothing like work or recreation , winding or unwinding. From the moment you get up, to the moment you sleep, we need to attend to some or the other work depending upon the situation we are in. Call it work, call it rest. One’s recreation is other’s work.
A lifestyle based on little bit of yoga, pranayam, meditation, religion, keeps mind uncluttered, free from unnecessary noise and apprehensions, and allows you to deal with every moment as it comes and not categorising it as work time or the day and then unwinding time of the day.
All what is required is rest. Rest for mind and body to feel rejuvinated, to be prepared for work again.
For me, a bath, change of fresh clothes, food with family, a good book and a cup of coffee works the best. After all, we do need to unwind after a hard day’s of work. We are not idealists who can keep mind calm and in control always!