A better understanding of the importance of rest and relaxation
has been made possible by advances in neurophysiology providing new in- sights
into what happens in the central nervous system. Investigators have been able
to establish-by actually picking out the structures in animals and stimulating
them with electric currents-that there are structures which have a damping or
inhibitory effect and are in fatigue, and there are other structures which make
up a system.
If we sum up the vast amount of Neuro-physiological research, we fit
this picture: An individual's mood-his ability to perform-at the given time
depends on the degree of activity of the two systems. Inhibitory system
dominates, the individual is in a state of fatigue; in the activating system dominates;
he is ready to step up performance. This concept of fatigue helps to explain
many symptoms otherwise difficult to understand.
All of us know, for example, that a feeling of tiredness can
often disappear immediately if something unexpected happens or if a piece of
intelligence or train of thought produces an emotional change. In such cases,
the activating system is being stimulated. But if the surroundings are
monotonous, if we are bored by what we are doing, the pitch of the activating
system is lowered and the inhibitory system is in the ascendancy.
And it is
this that explains the fatigue that ran occurs in monotonous situations even
when there is no stress. Monotony, by definition, is a wearisome sameness, a
lack of change in the variety. And whatever the work we do, it can be
considered monotonous work if it goes on without pause or change of pace.
We all are aware of the need for a good night's sleep, but
too few of us recognize the need for rest and relaxation during the day. Many
of us businessmen, professional people, and others-who not only work hard but
are under heavy stress could live more comfortably without sacrificing
efficiency-indeed, with increased efficiency-and probably live longer if we
managed to take breaks during the day and take them without guilty consciences.
