How To Rest Like A German
My Newsletter: benjaminantoine.substack.com
One thing I've noticed is that rest is valued very differently depending on the culture in which you are in and also depending on which generation you belong to.
In this video I cover 5 points regarding rest which have really stood out to me since living here in Germany.
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About Me:
I am a Brit (from England) who lives in Germany. After completing University in the UK I moved to China where I taught English for two years. I’ve learned a thing or two about cultural integration, language learning and everything else that goes with upping sticks and moving to a foreign country. I make videos about cultural, language and life and tend to pose a lot of questions. Join me on my exploration of life abroad.
#rest #recharge #livingingermany
it's so crazy that this channel (this might mean: you) is philosophical, a really deep conversation with a cool/daily life attitude. I definitely appreciate your effort on this channel. thanks, for all.
Thanks a lot for your comment 😀
@@britingermanymy pleasure 🎉
Exactly this aspect makes this channel really outstanding amongst other expat channels. I enjoy the quite analytic nature of videos which are enriched with further research on topics.
To keep sunday as a rest day, is an important aspect. Have a restful sunday! ;)
Totally 👍🏻
Burnout has become a big thing since the pandemic, I for one suffer from it. A lot of the time I end up going into my default reaction, which is to just stay at home and do nothing as a way to "recharge", when in fact it is doing the opposite. I find when I go out for a walk or just around the town, I end up having more energy and feeling better.
First of all burnout is something which can be pretty serious so for that more action might be needed. But if you are just generally overworked or feel tired, It's kind of counterintuitive, but if you can get out it usually is very helpful.
We rest differently, yes. I know supermarket ques stress out a lot of people, but on busy days, I sometimes pick the longest que at the check out. Here I stand - and I can't help it 😇 No kids screaming for sandwiches, no bosses shouting shouting for copies, no neighbours asking for help, no friends wanting attention. Just five minutes of absolute inactivity, where I can stare in to space and "emty my head"
Hah that is a great way of looking at it🙏thanks for the new perspective
Stop the world and get off... I like that way of looking at it with a different handle
An interesting approach which deserves to be thought about ... Feeling like I am having some rest in a supermarket queue certainly requires some training; to me it seems quite hard (?)
@@torstenberlin4088 I trained while on company pay 😉 One day I got upset about a looong que at the postoffice - and we were really busy back at the office. I had a revelation: Am I going to let 10 completely innocent people ruin my mood, so I return sour to my collegues and our costumers and ruin their mood? This has got to stop! Futhermore I'm being paid to stand here. I promised my self not to let que rule my world - and then one day: there was this long que, and I just thought, never mind - I can do with a break! If only I could transfer this "technic" to traffic....
Next time I am in a long line, I will remember you: here I stand , I can do no other!!
To me, taking "strategic breaks" as you called it is very important. Often, people feel they cannot rest because they have too much to do which then results in getting less done than if you had taken a break and used the energy gained through that to do whatever you do more efficiently. As the old Zen proverb puts it: "You should meditate for an hour every day. Except for when you don't have time for it, then you should meditate for 2 hours a day."
Well said 😀👍🏻
Took me some minutes to realize you were in Bamberg. A very nice city to rest in. Either passive or active.
Yay! Love it😍
Great channel, deserves more subs
Thank you . I appreciate that!
Thank you for this insightful video! 50+ German female here; one thing I'd like to add to your list of "active rest" is creativity, play or generally doing something just for the fun of it. I love to sing and am part of two loose crews of musicians who meet and do jam sessions. We improvise, making up what we play in the moment. Just for the fun of it, for practice too, but mainly just to hang out together and because playing music together is such a joy. Whether it's playing music, painting, fishing, journaling, going to a salsa class, going to see football (or whatever kind of sports) matches with friends - doing activities just for the fun of it, to get out of the house and into a mode other than work, chores and To Do lists; into a different mode mentally and physically = uplifting and energizing! "Play" is an essential part of what a sweet and delicious life looks like for me. :-D
Totally agree with that 😀👍🏻
Jawohl! And there I was grabbing a glass at the end of the video! Rest and relaxation are forms of replenishing the Soul's ambitions 😊
🤣🤣Wonderful! A glass of what?
@@britingermany Eines Bierchen 😉
Possibly others have also wondered about your approximate age…thanks for the reveal….since I’m in my mid fifties and experienced occupational burnout to such a degree that I no longer work in my profession, listening to your calming voice and hearing your wise insights makes me wonder in what space you shall be by the time of your fifties..what you verbalise isn’t rocket science but you’d be amazed at how many people don’t have the capacity to encapsulate these concepts….thank you for all your uploads….
Thanks a lot for listening. Yes I think burnout has gained a lot more attention since the pandemic. There is still this idea of working like a beast throughout your 20's 30s 40s and possibly also 50s so that you can eventually slow down and enjoy your 60s and beyond. I think many people are coming to the realisation that this is not a good way live
I have always found a one week break is never enough. The first week of any holiday is just spent switching off from work.
If I’m totally exhausted I find that as well. But often if I leave for another country/place right after work I find I am instantly transported to that new place and can immediately forget about work
@@britingermany It may also be the famous German work/life mix in action too. In England a lot of people are just happy to get through the week ahead and reach the weekend!
I will have a walk with the dogs and afterwards I will sit in the beergarden under the Linden trees. A famous old song about resting under Linden sung: "Und seine Zweige rauschten, als riefen sie mir zu Komm her zu mir, Geselle, hier findst du deine Ruh Hier findst du deine Ruh"
Sehr schöne
When I go hiking with friends, there is an obvious difference in the tone of conversations before and after the hike. On the way to the hike, people might seem a little tense, negative. On the way home the conversations are much more optimistic and relaxed.
That is amazing 😀🥾
A friend of mine allways said, i do it later when i'm retired. He died with 52 and i still miss him, so don't forget to live.
Exactly!! 😀
Right now I'm sitting in the garden on a bench in the shade and I'm happy about the many young sparrows that are making a loud chatter and flapping noise. The dogs lie in the shade and wait for the evening to go for a walk. Real relaxation and rest seems trivial. No, I don't have to bungee jump into any ravines.
Sounds like Bliss 😀
At least peace of mind.
I enjoy your videos! Vielen Dank! yes, rest is important and I wish I did know that when I was younger and had a family. Now I am catching up: I have to take so much time to feel good and thankfully that is paying off. There is something I'd call a life time burn out. Our body/mind/soul complex needs to recharge, especially when working in stressful environments and that is certainly the case in Germany.
Thanks a lot for your support 😀🙏
On the point of sick pay. A company i worked for back in the UK would reward financial bonuses to those who's attendance wasn't mared by sicknesses. It was a horrid idea as you would have employees turning up for their shifts who clearly should of been either on medical leave or for their mental health sakes. Alot of people left through burnout and injury pruely because their didn't want to lose that bonus.
We‘ve introduced a points-based bonus scheme where if you lose 5+ days in a quarter to sickness, you ‚lose‘ 2 bonus points. Has the effect that as soon as a Mitarbeiter reaches those 5 days, that person’s sick days in that quarter explode. Guess one has to rest and recharge enough to make it through the next quarter 🤧🥴
Interesting. That's is a bit of a tricky one...
Another great topic! Saturday is my fun day, sunday is my relax day. On saturday i am a social butterfly and active, i go out and meet friends. On sunday i take care of my body and soul. I love my alone time. Going for walks in the forest, biking or just stroll around. And i think a lot while doing that. Clear my head. On monday i feel refreshed and im excited for the new working week. But it took me a long way to get to this point tbh. A Burnout, depression and a long time therapy was the price i had to pay for my mistakes in my younger adult years. Your thoughts are on point. We are no machines. We need rest and breaks. Tyvm for your wonderful channel. 😊
Thanks a lot for sharing. That's quite inspiring
Great Video thx Have a nice Sunday
Thank you Arno. You too 🙏
Interessant wie immer
Danke sehr
Doing several shorter trips is certainly nice. But sometimes I want to visit places which need several days and/or a larger amount of money to travel there. Then I use at least 3 weeks or better (first time this year) 5 weeks of vacation. There is not much spare vacation time left with Christmas and some days (Fenstertage) I must take vacation. To me the weekends are important. Sometimes I do something, but most of the time I just stay at home, sleep long, maybe do something around the house or in the garden. That for me is good rest. And I don't spend any thought on the job until monday morning in the office.
I will make by sure to try out the techniques!
Great! I hope they help
„Müßiggang ist aller Laster Anfang“ and "Wer rastet, der rostet"- the wise proverbs known by every Alman.
In germany employers are forced by law to allow holidays in one block, otherwise he need good reasons.
The thing is that that’s often very difficult from a business Perspective…just like the 10 hour a day rule…it’s usually only the massive companies with works councils and unions that stick to that religiously.
Yes, you're right. Two weeks at least: Bundesurlaubsgesetz Paragraph 7.2: (2) The vacation is to be granted consecutively, unless there are urgent operational or personal reasons for the employee to split the vacation. If the vacation cannot be granted consecutively for these reasons and the employee is entitled to vacation of more than twelve working days, one of the vacation parts must comprise at least twelve consecutive working days.
What a great and underrated subject! I am thrilled that you did a video about this as rest is something that gets more important as we get older. Its surprising though that the wonderful German concept of „Muße“, a blissful, purposefree state of non doing“ still gets very little if any attention on the German book market. In spite of this and as a German who spent decades in the UK i do agree with you that Germans on the whole still have a better grasp of the need for real relaxation. One decisive factor is that on Sundays business is simply closed!. Sadly in the UK there is this non stop mentality and like many I often used to do my weekly shop in London on a Sunday…wondering afterwards why my weekends in UK felt so different from how I spent my weekends in Germany. So thank you very much for bringing this great topic to our attention. It certainly helped me putting a current stressful situation back in perspective ! 😊
Thanks a lot for watching. Definitely is something I have come to appreciate more in the last few years
Es gibt in der Tat ein deutsches Buch mit dem Titel "Muße - Vom Glück des Nichtstuns" (Autor Ulrich Schnabel), welches das Thema gründlich (also typisch deutsch) durchleuchtet. Kann ich empfehlen für den nächsten Urlaub oder als Nachtlektüre.
A similar old German word to "Muße" is "Beschaulichkeit". It is beeing in the moment, enjoying the moment in the way that time doesn't count, doesn't exist, without thinking about it, without missing something. In former times life was a daily change between hard work until the limit and relaxing in "Muße" and "Beschaulichkeit". Maybe it is similar what in America is called "Flow".
I think this presentation very much reflects your current status! For many a strategic break is a luxury. For example, having children means holidays are fixed. Not only are they planned for us, they are also taken with no regard to parental occupation and commitment! And working as a doctor means that even a ‘normal’ weekend is not a given; many in the profession are lucky if they can take their full holiday entitlement let alone accommodate them strategically in their lives. In addition, I personally worked as a freelancer, working seven days per week until the project was complete, for months on end. Getting tired and recharging batteries isn’t an option. We’re both therefore a touch prickly on the subject of ‘burnout’. I hope you don’t take this as a criticism as your presentations are beautifully constructed and energising. I simply wish to transport you into another world!
Hello there and thanks for sharing. Of course if you have kids things are a bit different and as you rightly pointed out that is not my situation. Thanks for letting me in ok your perspective 😀🙏
Willkommen zurück nach Deinem kurzen Urlaub mein Lieber! Ich hoffe wirklich, dass Du eine schöne Zeit hattest. Als Antwort auf Deine Frage zum Thema Ruhe möchte ich Dir sagen, daß es für mich sehr wichtig ist, jede Nacht ausreichend Schlaf zu bekommen. Meiner Meinung nach gibt es nichts Besseres für die Gesundheit als ausreichend und guten Schlaf zu bekommen.
Vielen Dank. Da muss ich dir zustimmen. Schlaf ist das alle wichtigste!
A few comments for those that are not familiar with German vacation laws. You have by law 24 days vacation based on the assumption that you are working 6 days a weekMonday to Saturday. I think that the vast majority of Germans work 5 days a week and therefore have by law 20 days of vacation. Means both receive at least 4 weeks. However, most will receive 30 days of vacation from the first year - that is the usual agreement in the contract and mandatory if a union and their counterpart agreed on a collective agreement or a house agreement. Means that most Germans will have 6 weeks vacation - at least! Talking about how people use their vacation by means on length of vacation taken in a row there are both personal preferences and probably preferences by the employer. I prefer to take at least 3 weeks once a year, probably 4 if I travel far during my vacation. But that one has to negotiate with the employer and consider as well the needs of coworkers like school holidays if the have kids. Most of my colleagues prefer 3 weeks ones a year as well - they experienced same as me that the first two weeks you are winding down and yet have not started to fully relax… Again, a very personal opinion of me. For my “daily recharge” I prefer a moderate level of physical activity (which others may consider laziness) while others plan activities for almost each minute they are not at work (which I call overactivity resulting in stress). In addition I love reading ( newspapers, science articles but as well SF and other novels) - that keeps my mind open for new topics. Same applies to videos, whether KZhead or of the different streaming options etc. Our vacations are a mixture of activity (exploring different cities and countries) and active inactivity like reading or simply sitting in a buzzing city watching people passing by. The “alone time” is also important as you mentioned but as a counterweight of that I value the exchange with friends - if I am not mistaking you spoke about the German friendship definition which differentiates between trusted friends of which one has mostly between one and maybe three. That exchange of one’s deepest thought, hopes and fears helps keeping your head straight much better than oneself chewing it for days and months be abuse your friends very often know exactly the root cause of such thoughts better than yourself. Not sure whether I am a typical German but at least you now know what this German thinks about such topic.
Thank you for sharing😀🙏
I only discovered your channel today and I am impressed and captivated by the beauty of your videos. This applies to not only the aesthetics and editing, but also to the content. You speak from the heart. As someone who has lived in Germany most of his adult life (grew up in Canada), I struggle to prove my identity to others as German, whilst having to also admit that I am somewhat Canadian (and with an ethnicity and name which isn't characteristic for either). I find it particularly difficult to articulate my observations and emotions on many topics you address in your videos. Your recent video about spending extended time in the UK after being abroad for 15 years was an emotional experience for me. Whilst I haven't spent more than 2-3 weeks at a time in Canada since moving to Germany at age 20, I travelled to the country for the first time in 3 years several months ago and was struck not only by the physical differences, but the cultural and demographic ones as well. I am still processing the experience; your videos offer a refreshing angle which is also familiar.
Thank you for your kind words. It can be a difficult thing to articulate your identity but I do think it’s important to try
@@britingermany Thank you for your videos!! Liebe Grüße aus Köln!
A few years ago I spoke the a German in Crete. He was from Berlin. He told me that he was looking for a German speaking doctor on Crete to diagnose a problem with his back. The diagnosis would be sent back to his employer and from memory also to his Krankenkasse in Germany, thus obtaining more sick leave and extending his holiday. I was amazed that anyone would dare to pull a stunt like this, although I understand that Berliners, or at least some of them are apt to push their luck.
Sounds quite familiar to me 🤣🤣
Nice to see my hometown in relation to your (new) philosophy. You are welcome.
It’s a gem well worth visiting
Love the semi-stills in your videos, really beautiful imagery that you are capturing there! 2 thoughts from a German: #1) for me, anticipation and visualizing the "next vacation" are part of the fun (or of the rest, if you will). I guess this is why so many Germans will use this as a small talk topic. This way, not only are they collecting information from others, but they are already starting to get into holiday mood for a few moments, giving that little bit of holiday feeling even if only for 5 minutes. #2) on weekends, I find that if you plan an activity that includes going somewhere and ideally spending one night elsewhere, on Sunday night I will feel so much more refreshed than if I just stay home. Sometimes it is as if the weekend had been a full day longer.
Yes what’s that phrase? Vorfreude ist die schönste Freude…😉
@britingermany well classically it is "Schadenfreude ist die schönste Freude" (a very doubtful proverb indeed), so morally, your version is clearly an improvement! 👍
Oh - interesting. Just checked as my paranoia was nagging me, and found that "Vorfreude is..." has more Internet hits. Maybe I am too old and remember "Schadenfreude ist..." from before someone started the "Germans can also be sympathetic" re-branding campaign 😂
But what I think is going for a walk is much more part of the every day experience and a way to relax in German than in British culture, however...
Yes a lot of people oversee the power of going for a walk...many people still look at me perplext when I say I went for a walk...the response is often when to...like to the supermarket?
Have a restful and pleasant Sunday . And being retired I do rest....a lot. :))
Haha well make the most of it 😀
@@britingermany I do :)
I like that you talked about every aspect there is about "recharging." Even the possible negative sides of doing nothing. Great overview! (And I didn't know that these are German ways but general ways?^^)
Thanks a lot. Well I’ve come to appreciate them more since living here…could have something to do with my age as well though
I think having multiple hobbies, be it the football club, Zumba dancing class or the crafting circle which happen at least once or twice a week and are seen as an integral part of adult life, not like sports in the US, where they are all school- or college bound, is a very important factor in German social life. It gives the week structure, even in relationships the standard ‚my boyfriend/hubby is busy with football on Thursdays‘, let‘s do something then…kinda thing gives each partner room to plan and include their friends who might be outside of the pair‘s shared friendcircle. It also makes great starting points to get to know new people when you moved to a new city. I feel like in the Anglosphere it is not assumed that any adult with children still has a right to participate in their own sport or club.
Right I suppose because if you have kids it#s really difficult to find the time to fit things in for yourself.
@@britingermany I think with more employers than ever making remote work possible, it is more of a cultural expectation in Germany that one or two activities per week are not too much to ask, and it also gives the partner alone time with the kids. I feel too many mums get into the vicious circle of always being there and not allowing for little things to go wrong, so when they suddenly have to go to hospital or care for a loved one, the father is completely overwhelmed. That sort of controlling behavior is a part of 'toxic femininity' that nobody talks about.
@@lynnm6413 interesting 😀…being a man I am only allowed to talk about toxic masculinity 😉
@@britingermany lol…omg, it‘s gotten used so much it has lost all meaning…
I think it is a correct and helpful opinion of yours
Thank you for commenting 😀
Hello people. Do you value rest or do you not really think about it?
as always: it depends - alles im Leben hat seine Zeit Rest can be the lazy time on the day where you take some minutes or hours for yourself alone in the workshop or vacation where you start to travel and explore or enjoy building things or relax while reading a book And the vacation we know about today is like many other things an achievement of whom ? Hitler cause he introduced the paid vacation in the 30s for the workers, which many forget cause in a depression these promises among labor and german proud were promised and hold, therefore he got his votes while today many think how could he have gotten these votes. Simple, if you look deeper like the 1918 eastern prussian germans forced to leave their families properties when polish forced them to leave in 2 weeks in 1919 / 1920 . All these refugees voted for any who promised to bring back their properties and family graves - and I bet all Ukrainians would do the same that had to flee. Off topic cause I am in the holidays writing about grandpa's life as born in the eastern part of prussia 1900, winning a war in Russia and coming back as a looser when the had been expelled by their former polish employees, the guys from the pig shed were then in command and took over the huge property. I have an audio tape of his life , but lot of work to write it down cause he went a second time to russia and ukraine and spent a longer time in Sibiria. But I like to do the research in old documents and now it is time cause I had spend the last 4 weeks of vacation with being lazy.
Working part time 75 % to have a day off per week. Still working more than 40 hours/week due to 24 hour shifts on weekends.
@@ulrichjahn9975 wow! That sounds intense
I sure do! [ 60+ Dutchman 😃]
That does sound very interesting indeed. You should definitely see about writing those things down@@typxxilps
Herzlichen Dank - again let me thank you, Benikon, for great stuff to listen to - as usual, your video is a grain of salt pimping up a thinking person's Sunday! I do believe in the importance of rest, strategic or not, particularly after a friend and colleague of mine worked himself to death; the heart attack came out of the blue on a Saturday morning. He would be 53 now, but he left this crazy planet at only 40! Proposal: Another video in which you reflect more on this topic, taking into considerationGerman history, particularly the industrial revolution and the Prussian tradition once triggered by King Frederick II - it brought forth collective work ethics which basically are very unhealthy, but unfortunately have survived over the centuries. I call it one of our national diseases. Ein weites Feld... Apart from this complex issue, I hope you and all your fans here are enjoying a Sunday full of rest causing wellness; we shouldn't forget that this is what the weekly day off once was conceived for. As for me, I will always be grateful to the ancient Israelites who gave this extremely humane present to the world ! ! !
Thanks so much and for the thoughtful suggestions. It definitely is a big topic. I am trying to avoid the heat here as much as possible 🥵
Poor you - has the air cooled down meanwhile? I wish you pleasant evening rest (!!!) with delightful warmth instead of heat.
Have a Rest In Peace. 🤩
You too 😉
Rest like a Beatle 👍 m.kzhead.info/sun/pqWAY9Frp2uLmIE/bejne.html&pp=ygUYaW0gb25seSBzbGVlcGluZyBiZWF0bGVz
Recreation, literally re-creation. The constantly used ax gets blunt and dull.
very true. It needs to be sharpened now and then
Is this because we say " Rest in peace "? To get a life before we die and rest..
Well we say “lay to rest” as well but yes there is the idea that you should work and be achieving and improving and doing stuff until the day you die
Interesting I was just brought up like that for me it is just normal
That’s culture for you
Ich mag deine Art zu sprechen. In Frankfurt gibt es viele Toastmaster clubs( Deutsch, Englisch ...). Vielleicht waere es was fuer Dich.
Vielen Dank. Muss zugeben habe bisher von toastmaster noch nie etwas gehört
Toastmaster Clubs? Habe ich noch nie gehört. Was ist das?
Mmm...13 days later. We miss you much ;)
Awwww. New video will be out tomorrow 😀
Germans never rest until the boss stop working.. 😂NO for real we love to rest... to every occasion 😴
😉
Great video! The older I get, the more I realize how important rest and taking breaks is! The US, where I live, has such a toxic work culture. That's definitely something Germany is doing right.
Thanks a lot benjamin
sir, at some point - like Jon and Vangelis say it in their song - I think you will find your way HOME
Well, thank you for your video, but your experiences differ from most Germans. In Germany, I never had been sent home despite how ill I. went to the job, and when I was able to do remote work, I was even asked to work when I went to the doctor and asked for a prescription beforehand. So, Germany is NOT the paradise it has been for YOU for many other Germans.
That's very interesting for me to hear and I often get told things like it is illegal to work if you have a prescription or sick note. I guess it really depends who you work for a which industry you are in
@@britingermanyI think the important point here is stay home when you caught a cold. Nobody wantsvto get it from you.
Oh, no. It was the Japanese who invented "Waldbaden". Germans caught on rather quickly, though. 🌲🌳😄
Ahhhh yes.
You seem to want to make the point that health care isn‘t free in Germany as apposed to the UK. There‘s really not much difference: the money is either paid as social security in the UK or KV in Germany, either way, the money is automatically deducted from your wages and thereby we pay for it in both countries
Yes the differences are not huge. It was just a theory and also the fact that the government tried to prevent so many visits by introducing the quarterly fee back in 2004. But perhaps there are other reason behind this behaviour
I would suggest that what you're actually talking about is recreation in its original sense re-creation.
Yes. Good point👍🏻
Ohhhh Bambäääsch ....wie schee....!!!!
Jaaa
The idea "rest is for recharging your batteries" is a two-edged sword for me. Ok, it's necessary and helpful to have your batteries recharged, but on the other hand it makes rest a part of your work. You don't work to live but live to work, and even when you don't work, that's only to make you able to work better soon.
Well I didn't mean it necessarily in the sense that you only rest to work but just to get the most out of your free time as well.If you are completely exhausted then often just meeting friends seems like a huge thing
WAIT. THAT'S BAMBERG. Grüße aus genau dieser Stadt :D Hope you liked our little treasure chest of a city. 🤍
Yes it is gorgeous 😍
@@britingermany I have so much love for my city, and I'm always so delighted to see visitors enjoying it. 🤍
One thing about going to work sick: There's this saying that goes "Niemand verleiht dir den 'Held der Arbeit'" and I think that's exactly it. No one will give you a medal for working yourself to death. As always, wonderful video 👍🏻
@@EmpressCosplay thank you. And yes in American and also to a lesser externe British culture er is the idea that you will at least get the respect and admiration of your colleagues