The positive value of relaxation, balanced against the negative effects of excessive stress, seems so clear, but to many who live day in and day out with the demands of families, careers, and other duties, relaxation often doesn’t get a second look.

Sure, there are some very practical reasons for that – but when you stop to think about the long term effects of being overworked, stressed-out and teetering on the brink, isn’t it time to re-open the books on how to get more “down time” back into your life?

Actually, the words themselves, “down time”, are probably not helping.  People (think bosses) tend to see this as negative, as something excessive or “extra”.  But that’s not really the whole truth.

When physicians and experts talk about stress, they’re really talking about two different kinds of stress: we could call them “incidental” and “chronic” stresses.  The first kind is a natural part of life: when you go hurtling 200ft down on a roller coaster at over 70mph, you’re going to feel that incidental stress.  But people still pay and wait in lines for hours to do it.  Why?  Well, because incidental stress can be a part of a healthy, balanced life.

But chronic stress is a different story.  Experts studying what’s called “psychoneuroimmunology” have a lot to say about stress.  This long term really means the study of the interactivity of the mind with the body.  And that’s something that most of us agree exists.

Lots of different research has come to similar findings: that high chronic stress generally leads to debilitation including high blood pressure and a weakened state.

So, for anyone who seems to be at risk, there’s a need to fight chronic stress, not in the doctor’s office, but at home.  There’s a limit to what the doctor can do for you: it’s not easy to diagnose stress-related illnesses, and there’s no magic pill.  Because chronic stress is built into the unique nuances of your daily life, you’re responsible for making that daily routine into something that stresses you out less.

That’s where relaxation comes in.  What is it?  It’s different things to different people.  Animal lovers might find their nirvana out in the paddock feeding chickens and goats, but for others, that might just add more stress to their lives.  Many of us find positive relaxing value in humor (our own specific kind of humor!), long walks, meditation, or reading books.

Fitness also plays into the equation.  Most would agree that fitness can lead to less stress by helping the body to be active.  In other words, an inactive body and an overactive mind is a recipe for chronic stress.  If you’ve ever felt the worry and fear of the day flow out of your body while running, weight training, or swimming, you know what I’m talking about.

But fitness activities are just one element of a whole “menu” for replacing stressful activities with healthier ones.  So if you’re serious about getting back to a more laid-back state to add vitality to your life, create a “relaxation journal”.  Much like the fitness journals we talk about a lot, a relaxation journal will include details about all of your new activities and how you feel about them.  You are your own doctor in this regard.  Take notes and read them back to yourself to keep working on a routine that feels right – and you may find that high blood pressure, along with other conditions, will respond well!

 By Justin Stoltz,Fitness Future Correspondent