I don't relax until I get a mile down the trail, and I no longer can work. But that's what it takes to give myself permission to chill out.

I think one of the other reasons it works so well for me is because I have to be in balance with the environment. I get up when the sky turns light, go to bed when it gets dark, and always sleep according to nature's clock. My whole day consists of constant, aerobic, low impact exercise with a few breaks to refuel. If I push too hard, I take a break until I catch my breath. The scenery is beautiful, restoring. Aside from getting geared up in the first place, the whole thing is simple, straightforward, and dare I say it? Wholesome. It's optimum operating conditions for my body, and evens me right out.

Unfortunately, that's not how my everyday life works.