Many of the things that help us to rest are the result of experiences way back in our childhood. A particular smell, or sound, or even color will help us rest if it has been associated with restful times in the past. A correspondent writes the following in this connection:

"To me, there is nothing quite so restful as a Sunday afternoon with the radio humming some soft, slow music. Fast music with a drumming rhythm is designed to make people dance and is not conducive to rest. Slow music, if not too loud, is usually restful. Sometime, when you are in need of relaxation, try sprawling out on the sofa with the lights low and the radio tuned in ever so softly to some slow music. Unless you are unlike most people, this will help you to relax."

Several years ago there was a program on the radio that was broadcasted every night just before bedtime. It consisted largely of soft, dreamy music played in a restful way. After hearing such a program for fifteen minutes, the listener was ready for bed and a sound sleep. The kinks and tensions of the day were gone.

Some people find the sound of water helpful to them when they want to rest. A certain woman cannot sit on the beach for five minutes and hear the surf rolling in without dozing off. Of course, in her case there are other things besides the sound of the surf. The smell of the salt water, the warmth of the sand, and the sun help to lull her to sleep. We have already mentioned the soothing effect of running water. If you have lived near boats you may find the lapping of the waves on the bow a restful sound, or the fluttering of the mainsail in the breeze may soothe you. Perhaps you are one of the many who love to lie in bed and hear the patter of rain on the roof. The smell of the rain and the cool air coming in the window have the effect of ether upon some people, carrying them off completely.

Even smells can have their effect upon us. If you have been accustomed to rest in a garden, the aroma of growing vegetables will lull you. The fragrance of certain flowers, if it has come to your nose while you were resting in the past, may help you now to find a retreat from the mental savages crowding down upon you. Take the experience of this man, for example:

"To me the smell of freshly plowed earth is restful. No doubt this can be traced to the times when as a very small youngster I used to go with my father to plow in the field on warm spring days. It used to be great fun to stretch out on the soft plowed ground and gaze up into the sky to watch birds, clouds, and insects pass by in a never-ending pageant of lazy movement. Ah, me! It makes me sleepy to think about it."

Colors, Too, Can Be Helpful To You

Did you ever stop to think why rooms are painted a certain color? Some colors are restful, while others are not. When your eyes are tired, you can often rest them by looking at dark-green foliage. Some writers say that there is nothing more restful than gazing into an evening sky and wondering how far it is to the various stars and what is beyond them. Star gazing can be a restful hobby.

You know and like some people who would be the last persons in the world to have around if you really need to relax. Their very presence is stimulating. They always have something to do or to talk about. Just when you are settling down to enjoy a good period of relaxation they say: "Let's play bridge," or "How about going to the movies," or "Have you heard that . . ."

Not all persons are idle chatterboxes, however. There are people whose presence is a relaxing influence. Their manner of talking, the things they have to say, and everything about them help you to relax and to forget the ordinary cares of life. Unfortunately too few of these people appear in the acquaintance circles of each one of us.

Some writers claim that tight-fitting clothes make it difficult for us to relax. They say that, if you really want to rest, it is necessary to loosen belts, garters, collars, and other tight articles that impair the normal circulation of the blood. Your own experience will no doubt add strength to this claim.