The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1920-09-18
How to
Live
II
Common Sense Comments on
Health, Happiness and
Longevity
II
By GEORGE F. BUTLER
A. NJ. M. D.
RES

must have periods of rcpOse Rest Is
as necessary as food. after a hard
days mental or physical work. Effec-
J tive activity is based on its intervals
| of rest. Much of our fatigue and in
effective work Is often caused by un-
| necessary tension and waste effort.
| Use only the force necessary for the
successful accomplishment of your
| task. Avoid all unnecessary strain.
| Do not use the whole body in piece
Of work that requires only the eXer-
else of some special part.
When you rest. keep still; when you
| move. move with that part of the
| force by walking with your arms and
| face as well as your legs. If circum-
| stances force an unusual and ia
| tguing amount of eXertion upon you,
| break it now and then by periods of
| absolute rest. minute or two of
quiet, with eyes closed. with your
tension relaxed and the gearing of the
| machinery thrown off for the moment
will help and refresh you greatly.
! You must learn to rest your mind as
you do your muscles. The habit of
, mental relaxation is as necessary as
that of muscular relaxation. Acquire
the habit; you can do it.
One of the most essential principles
of efficient, successful work, is TO
know when to stop. The most eff
cent person is the one who works
only when at his best. and quits at
the first signs Of fatigue.
Efficient work requires close and
continuous attention. Inability to give
close attention to the work in hand is
Natures warning that the fatigue
point has been reached. Persistent
failure to heed these symptoms usual
~ marks the beginning of nervous ex-
haustion with all its attendant evils.
The vital functions are all affected by
fatigue. producing a condition of low
vitality in the organism, making it
very susceptible to all forms of dis
ease The tired man loses his self
control. his Judgment, his sense of
proportion. Fatigue is so far reach
ing that 1t affects the power to live
up TO moral principles. You must
realize that 1t Is better to regulate
your daily tasks with some regard for
your nervous system than to burden
yourself with nerve-rackng work for
weeks and months until you are forced
to take a rest. You should make it
rule TO rest little after every i'm
larry after you have gone through
severe nervous strain.
When the time comes TO rest. do so
In fact. not merely in name. The
power of perfect. chiId-ike relaxation
must be cultivated in order perpetu-
ally 10 renew the body. When this is
acquired you will get as much rest
in few minutes of quiet rs many
get out of several hours sleep. To
relax for n few minutes during the
day is often very refreshing. Fatigue
and rest must balance. If you rest
too much you are not going to get
strong If you work too hard. physi-
cally or mentally, you will go to
waste. Activity is life; stagnation is
death. Learn to balance! When man
learns the art of wholesome living,
the recuperative power of intelligent
rest and the rejuvenative power of
contented thought that tired feel
ing" will disappear and he will be
filled with energy. enthusiasm. peace
and happiness. Only by daily. har-
monions use of all ones being-facul
ties, functions. senses. muscles-can
one earn the right to prolonged pos
session of them. LEARN HOW TO
LIVE.
Most Of the Injuries, and many of
the so-called comforts of life, are not
only not Indispensable but positive
hindrances to the elevation of man
kind. With respect 10 Injuries and /
comforts. the wisest have ever lived
more simple and meagre life than
the poor.
Inc ordinary Heartily lndH Is uuilt
unconscious of the existence of his
own physical mechanism. 1t is the
last thing he thinks about. This Is
partly due to the fact that he Is
healthy. but his health in its turn IL
partly due to the fact that lie does not
worry about his interior.
There Is enough in the world to
complain about and find fault with.
If you have the disposition. You often
travel on hard and uneven road, but
with cheerful spirit you may walk
therein with great comfort and come
TO the end of your journey In peace.
habit IS the approximation of the
animal system to The organic. u Is
confession OF failure in the highest
function of being, which involves n
perpetual determination. In full view
of all existing circumstances.
To be perpetually longing and i'm