By Gary Bennett
Proving there is a day for everything — even things that don’t need a special day — Aug. 15 is National Relaxation Day. How do I know this? I make it my business to keep up on all the newest trends, plus I consider myself a bit of a relaxation savant. Just ask my wife. No one can sit in one place longer than me.
Truth be told, I’ve waited all year for this day to arrive. It makes me look good.
National Relaxation Day encourages us to slow down and smell the roses. It’s a day to focus on taking care of yourself and taking a moment to relax. And it comes at the perfect time. August is the laziest time of year. It’s hot. There’s not much yard work to do since most things stopped growing weeks ago. There are no holidays to prepare for. And, for most of the world (notably large swaths of Europe), people don’t even work in August.
Inexplicably, a fourth-grader is credited with founding this day in 1985. Nine-year-old Sean Moeller from Michigan suggested to city leaders that we needed a day when people do nothing of real value. (Apparently, he was trying to get out of household chores.) He said that cleaning and real work are not relaxing. He said that too much work can make us sick, run-down, tired, “and that’s just wrong.” (Obviously, he’s heard me talking to my wife.)
With a wonderful idea like this, I’m sure he must have gone on to do many other great things in life.
You must admit he was right. It has been proven time and again that stress can be harmful to our health, both mentally and physically. Most doctors agree that finding ways to relax and reduce stress improve overall health. There is incontrovertible evidence that illness is significantly more common when you’re under stress.
American are well known for their hectic lifestyles and manic work schedules. It’s a double-edged sword because Americans want to be achievers, but burnout is always lurking around the corner. Europeans shake their heads at us when we recount all the late nights at work, vacations skipped, meetings attended and double- and triple-booked lifestyles.
National Relaxation Day gives us a chance to be mindful of all the things we’re trying to squeeze into a single day. It gives us a chance to just say no. No, I’m not doing any laundry today. No, I’m not fixing dinner tonight. No, I don’t need to vacuum. And no, I won’t be helping you with your homework. This day is about kicking back and focusing on yourself.
I am no stranger to mindful relaxation. My relaxation strategy includes several items that are not world-altering but provide me with the space I need to otherwise carry on with a busy life: a quiet, solo lunch in a not very busy sandwich shop, floating in a pool and drying off in the sun, and a leisurely country drive. Ahhh, I can almost feel the stress dropping away.
So, be sure to put “relax” on your to-do list. Hard as it may be to believe, a study reported that 45% of people just don’t know how to relax. Don’t be like those people.
Be like these notable Fredericktonians who told me their tactics for relaxation. Take your cue from them and find what works for you.
“I enjoy mowing my lawn, and I play in an online trivia league — with no cheating and no forfeits.” — Frederick mayor Michael O’Connor
“I enjoy working in my yard, particularly mowing the grass. It’s alone time with some music.” — Bob Smith, director of Parks & Recreation, City of Frederick
“I love to declutter and reorganize a closet, drawer or other small section of the house.” — Alison J. Bomba, licensed psychologist
“I declutter my closet and drawers while listening to podcasts. Also, jumping into my swim spa just changes my stress level immediately.” — Jodie Ostoich, president and CEO, Interfaith Housing Alliance
“I relax by turning on some music, pouring a glass of wine or having a cup of tea, and baking something delicious.” — Kelli Ackiewicz, program manager for Community Education at FCC
“I go crabbing and sometimes oystering in the winter for the same result.” — Eric Anderson, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County
“We find working in the garden and reading very relaxing.” — Darlene and John Aulls, president of FSK Lions Club
“Mine is finding and cooking complex meals. The hours it takes to prep and cook are relaxing, plus the payoff of an amazing meal at the end.” — Kris Fair, executive director of the Frederick Center and Maryland State Delegate
“I love to read comic books. I love that I can finish them relatively quickly, be entertained and sit comfortably while doing so.” — Malcolm Furgol, executive director of the Coalition for a Healthier Frederick
“I relax by mowing the grass and doing my farm chores.” — David Hawkins, proprietor, Hawkins Landscaping
“I do yard work, specifically weeding or mowing the grass. Maybe it is the sense of accomplishment that helps me relax.” — Rev. Chance Martinez-Colon, pastor at Grace United Church of Christ
“I am most relaxed when I travel. Whether it’s a week-long trek out of the country or a day trip to Annapolis, a change of scenery and environment does wonders for my sense of calm.” — Melissa Muntz, executive director, SHIP of Frederick County
“I enjoy picking up sticks in the woods across the street from me. It’s great exercise and then I get to celebrate with a great fire.” — Ron Wolfe, proprietor, The Wolfe Team Realtors
Gary Bennett is a longtime Frederick resident who spends his time hiking, biking, volunteering and providing childcare for grandchildren. He is married and retired from his career as a nonprofit marketing executive.