I was once at a point in my life where I had no real responsibilities, few (if any) hobbies, and put no effort at all into personal development. That quickly became depressing and felt like a prison of my own making, and I never want to go back to that. The way I got out and entered a much better phase of life was by taking on some responsibilities and working regularly on something bigger than myself. This gave me something productive to do with my time and made me realize that rest and relaxation should complement effort, not replace it.
A nice meal is much more enjoyable when I’m hungry than when I’ve just eaten. And no matter how much I enjoy a certain kind of food, I’d get sick of it if I ate it all the time. Just as eating constantly would be a recipe for misery, endless relaxation is as well. Rest is necessary to recharge and allow me to resume my work with renewed vigor, ideas, and positivity, and taking a break is wonderful when I’ve been super busy. But, without some type of work from which to take a break, resting all the time quickly becomes boring and draining. Ideas and possibilities pile up without being put to use, motivation decreases, and the body gradually wastes away. This doesn’t mean we should strive to be busy all the time, do meaningless things simply to pass the time, or that we have to work at a job or business of our own in order to feel satisfied. We can find fulfillment in volunteering for good causes, pursuing our passions, helping other people, and generally trying to make a positive difference in the world. Depending on your life situation, you can find fulfillment in one or more of those activities.
One of my college professors said he used to be so busy that he’d fight to stay awake at night so he could feel what it was like to relax. I’m not at that point yet, but I’m getting close. I’m much busier now than I was as recently as a month ago. Because I don’t have as much free time as I did before, I’m much more appreciative of the times when I can rest. I often build these times into my schedule, but they often appear out of nowhere. For example, I once arrived way earlier than necessary for a dance event because I was wrong about the time it started and took it as a sign that I needed to slow down a bit and enjoy the moment. Ultimately, whether I’ve planned a break or it just happens, I try to relax and enjoy the peace they provide me. And I always feel much better when I do.