From the author: Self-observation is the oldest method in psychology. It's interesting, it's useful, it's informative. However, sometimes a companion is needed... like a diary. Then it becomes possible to reread your thoughts and find an opportunity to make your life a little happier... especially if you can’t rest peacefully! He worked a lot and became the richest man in the cemetery. For the third day now I can’t give myself a rest. I want to allow myself a rest - without articles, reading books and consultations - but I constantly scold myself in the depths of my soul: “Freeloader! Slob! Slacker! I scold myself for not writing, reading, or watching educational videos. But scolding myself for resting, I neither really rest nor work. It turns out that after such a “rest” you can take time off again... you haven’t gained any more strength! I know from practice that “allowing yourself a rest” is often difficult. I know that inner voice that distracts me from fiction books and sitcoms. But I just want to relax! Even this “diary” is a compromise, I want to record my feelings and internal resistance to complete relaxation - and at the same time it will be some kind of hint of work. I started writing and somehow it became easier, more pleasant. So let’s write it down: 21.48 – I felt relief and enthusiasm when I stopped trying to rest and started writing in my “idle diary.” 21.52 – Watching a movie. 21.55 – I checked b17 in case of applications for a demo consultation. I was upset that it didn’t. I was glad that I could write a couple of messages on the forum. 21.59 – I read the dictionary entry in Wikipedia about Gaiters and Leggings. I wonder if this can be called relaxation? 22.00 – I play a game via the Internet. It doesn’t drag on – it’s sad...22.10 – By the way, the film is funny. But I still stop every five to ten minutes to check messages in VKontakte or pour some tea. 22.15 – I made an entry in a professional group in VKontakte. Maybe it’s time to get treatment for workaholism? 22.19 – What if you set yourself a ransom, according to the principle “time for business and time for fun?” If I can’t get rid of thoughts about work right now, maybe I should give myself the right to work so that later I can rest with full awareness of my right to a well-deserved rest? It’s decided, in the morning I’ll take notes on one lecture by Zh.M. Robin - and then into all the bad things: walks, partying, sloppiness. 22.27 - I thought that by concentrating on the topic of relaxation, I was remembering those days when I really couldn’t bring myself to do something - for example, on the eve of a coursework – and lay on the couch watching Dr. House. Such days filled with wallowing usually led to unpleasant consequences. Then it would be appropriate to scold yourself. But now is not the eve of coursework, now is vacation. Christmas trees are sticks, this is a vacation that is created for relaxation and rest. I already work all day long... and now I won’t get anything for films and TV series, my life will only get better - I’ll learn a couple of funny jokes and puns, I’ll cheer up, maybe I’ll even come up with a new idea for an article on the topic (well, here we go again old!) Now - not then! Now you can allow yourself to enjoy idleness... November 23 – I became less distracted from my “empty” activities after the previous introspection. I think the very fact of this diary reduced self-recrimination (as I planned), but at the same time it entertained me... 12/23 – Oh! What an interesting word - “empty activities!” Apparently I devalue the very fact of rest... But what if we saturate it with positive content? After all, this is strength for new feats, this is a buzz, this is an opportunity for relaxation - to relieve excess tension from the body. This is new information that adds interesting discoveries to everyday life. These are new emotions! (The idea of ​​emotions resonated with lively joy and surprise: how come I haven’t thought about this before?) This is an opportunity to pamper my taste buds... Straighten my back... stretch my shoulders... Wow, it turns out my body needs rest more than my brain! This is also an opportunity to get a good night's sleep - which means being cheerful and cheerful in the morning... Rest is great! It's intense! This is what I choose now for.