In today's era of technology, with the Internet and smart devices, everyone's life seems to be always set on a fast pace. Amid the hustle and bustle, people tend to forget to take some time to rest and relax, thus increasing their risk of being stressed and having a low sense of well-being. A global survey has identified the top restful and relaxing activities, which correlate to the sense of well-being of a person.
The Rest Test, designed by Hubbub, surveyed some 18,000 people from 134 countries around the world on their subjective feeling of being rested and relaxed. The global survey, which was spearheaded by Durham University and performed in collaboration with BBC radio, has identified the top 10 most restful activities based on individual answers of the respondents, according to Psychology Today. Topping the list is reading, followed by being in a natural environment and being on your own. Listening to music and doing nothing in particular round up the top four and five. The rest of the list includes walking, having a bath, daydreaming, watching TV and meditating.
The respondents who got the highest well-being scores reported doing a restful or relaxing activities for five to six hours the day before the survey. However, those who rested for over six hours reported a slightly lower well-being scores, partly driven by their association of restful activities with laziness. The study highlights that it is not the case and that taking a rest is essential to optimize one's well-being.
There were also numerous studies and articles written on the importance of taking a break to relax, decompress and recharge. Resting allows your body to heal and regain energy. It also enables one to reorganize thoughts and become more productive. In the long term, giving your body a time to breathe is beneficial for your overall health. Stretching yourself to your limit, physically and mentally, can only do so much.
