VACATION-RELAXATION

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 72, Issue 1, 15 January 1946, Page 99

VACATION-RELAXATION

Contributed by the Department of Health

FOR . those fortunate people who have yet to have their summer holidays, here are a few tips that will enable you to. enjoy them. Some people get the idea that holiday time at the seaside or in the country or on the high hills is the time for cramming as' much exercise as possible into a week or so. That sort of thing is all right for those super-energetic folk who have to be galloping around strenuously all the time, and who are trained for it, but for the average person the vacation should be just what its name implies a rest and relaxation from toil.

Suitable exercise is good; unsuitable exercise is harmful. Climbing mountains, all day, walks, playing games strenuouslythese are all right if you’re trained up for them. Your body will warn you if you’re going at it too enthusiastically. It’s natural to feel tired after exercise. It’s rather a pleasant feelinga comfortable kind of.tired feelingyou don’t want to do anything more, you’re hungry, drowsy pleasantly contented. After a rest, or a sleep, you feel good, and fit for lots more. -

Stiff and Sore

But if you’ve overdone things it’s a different story. There’s no comfort in the tired feeling—you can’t sit easily or lie down in enjoyment of relaxation. You are stiff in places and sore. You’re too tired to eat, and if you try to go to sleep, sleep just

won’t come. Your body is telling you that you’ve been foolish. Over-fatigue has its origins in our muscles. When in action they use up energy and produce waste products—particularly carbon dioxide and lactic acid. If the supply of energy material goes short and carbon dioxide and lactic acid accumulate, fatigue occurs. While resting, the accumulated wastes are removed from the muscles. A warm bath or shower followed by a cold shower stimulates the blood circulation which brings fresh oxygen, and food to the muscle cells, and takes away waste products of fatigue. Thus the warm bath helps to prevent soreness next day, after excessive exercise.

In these holidays of yours aim at taking just the amount of exercise that gives you the pleasantly tired feeling, makes you ready for food, and.fit for more exercise after a rest. If you go on to soreness and stiffness and overtiredness, you’ve got to recover; you’re really losing time in your vacation. Take daily exercise, but nothing to excess.

Children are liable to overdo it too, little children particularly. They may not complain of fatigue but they very readily get overtired. Then mother knows all about it— irritability, fractiousness, and broken sleep. And that spoils mother’s holiday, so it’s best to put some thought and firmness into the routine of the vacation.

Bedtime Hours

Up to the age of 5 years, at any rate, the daytime rest should not be

dispensed with because of the attractions of the beach, or the bush, or the farm, or whatever it may be. Nor should the hour for going to bed be lengthened out, because of the delights of twilight on the seashore. Keep regular bedtime hours for all the childrenwhether toddlers or school children. Twelve hours’ sleep for

toddlers and pre-school children, eleven hours’ for primary school boys and girls, and ten hours’ for secondary school giants of either sex —these should be holiday bedtime hours, if you want your children to get full benefit from their vacation. They’ll beg to stay up longer at nights, and the little ones will want to dodge the daytime rest, but for their own sakes be firm and don’t give in.

Wanderlust IHAVE been fascinated with the holiday memories and travel articles in the August “Journal.” What a rich and varied treasure trove was unearthed! “Homespun’s” contribution interested me particularly, as she had followed almost the same route across Belgium and down the Rhine as I did a few years before the war. I, too, visited St. Goar and climbed the Lorelei Rock, where we enjoyed a fruit flan made with luscious wild strawberries and topped with whipped cream.

In Cologne we had as a guide a man whose command of the English language was acquired while a prisoner in England during the Great War. Weren’t we lucky to have seen Europe, and particularly London, before war devastated its historic beauties! — “Sara E.,” Central Otago.

TIME Time is Too slow for those who wait; Too swift for those who fear; Too long for those who grieve; Too short for those who rejoice; But for those who love . Time is Eternity.

Lullaby Moonbeams are tucking the baby clouds under, Moonlight is smiling on you. Stardust is lighting your eyes up with wonder, \ ' Starlight is shining anew. Far off in dreamland the fairies are waiting, Parcelling dreams bright and new— Hushabye, lullaby, baby, my baby, Sleepy time’s coming for you. Mary Waters.