--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Anytime you exhaust yourself trying to…" description: "\"Anytime you exhaust yourself trying to relax, that's active leisure.\" — Po Bronson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/po-bronson-14479_active_anytime-you-exhaust-yourself-trying-to-r_1341844.png" --- # Anytime you exhaust yourself trying to relax, that's… ![“Anytime you exhaust yourself trying to relax, that's active leisure.” quote by Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/po-bronson-14479_active_anytime-you-exhaust-yourself-trying-to-r_1341844.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/po-bronson-14479_active_anytime-you-exhaust-yourself-trying-to-r_1341844.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/po-bronson-14479_active_anytime-you-exhaust-yourself-trying-to-r_1341844.png) > “Anytime you exhaust yourself trying to relax, that's active leisure.” [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Attempting to relax while exhausted creates paradoxical activity, highlighting the need for true rest. **In simple terms:** Exhaustion makes relaxation feel active. Key Takeaway Seek genuine rest, not forced relaxation. Themes rest exhaustion paradox Mood calm thoughtful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - work‑life balance - mindfulness - self‑care - travel Key Concepts well‑being stress management Questions to Reflect On - What truly relaxes you? - How can you differentiate rest from activity? A Different Perspective Rest may be elusive without boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Active](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active/) [Active Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active-leisure-4535808/) [Leisure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leisure/) [Relax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relax/) [Relax Active](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relax-active-4535809/) [Relaxation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relaxation/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Trying Relax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying-relax-1472517/) ## Related quotes > [I'm trying to relax, but it's hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryuichi-sakamoto/i-m-trying-to-relax-but-it-s-hard/) [Ryuichi Sakamoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryuichi-sakamoto/) > [Remember, don't start trying to relax; that is the most absurd thing in the world. And there are many stupid people writing books about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/remember-don-t-start-trying-to-relax-that-is-the-most-absurd-thing-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Some people would call me boring, but that's just the way I am and I'm not that stressed about things: I'm just trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-odegaard/some-people-would-call-me-boring-but-that-s-just-the-way-i-am-and-i-m/) [Martin Odegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-odegaard/) > [I have learned to not look so much at the results and tune out the outside pressures. It has taken a lot of work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-gauff/i-have-learned-to-not-look-so-much-at-the-results-and-tune-out-the/) [Coco Gauff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-gauff/) > [You can go to doctors until the last cow has been placed in its shed. You can journey the earth in search of peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-matthew-adams/you-can-go-to-doctors-until-the-last-cow-has-been-placed-in-its-shed/) [George Matthew Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-matthew-adams/) > [Leisure, the highest happiness upon earth, is seldom enjoyed with perfect satisfaction, except in solitude. Indolence and indifference do not always afford leisure; for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/leisure-the-highest-happiness-upon-earth-is-seldom-enjoyed-with/) [Johann Georg Ritter von Zimmermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-georg-ritter-von-zimmermann/) > [To be able to fill leisure intelligently is the last product of civilization, and at present very few people have reached this level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/to-be-able-to-fill-leisure-intelligently-is-the-last-product-of/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [We should be able to bring the practice of meditation hall into our daily lives. We need to discuss among ourselves how to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-should-be-able-to-bring-the-practice-of-meditation-hall-into-our/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [For mothers who must earn, there is indeed no leisure time problem. The long hours of earning are increased by the hours of domestic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-anthony/for-mothers-who-must-earn-there-is-indeed-no-leisure-time-problem-the/) [Katharine Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-anthony/) > [It would be glorious to see mankind at leisure for once. It is nothing but work, work, work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/it-would-be-glorious-to-see-mankind-at-leisure-for-once-it-is-nothing/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Life as such has to be taken as a cosmic joke - and then suddenly you relax because there is nothing to be tense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/life-as-such-has-to-be-taken-as-a-cosmic-joke-and-then-suddenly-you/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [These are my politics: to change what we can; to better what we can; but still to bear in mind that man is but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-louis-stevenson/these-are-my-politics-to-change-what-we-can-to-better-what-we-can-but/) [Robert Louis Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-louis-stevenson/) > [Laughter relaxes. And relaxation is spiritual.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/laughter-relaxes-and-relaxation-is-spiritual/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't relax. My main relaxation is meeting illustrators and publishers in restaurants and bars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-ross/i-don-t-relax-my-main-relaxation-is-meeting-illustrators-and/) [Tony Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-ross/) > [It is in human nature to relax, when not compelled by personal advantage or disadvantage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-in-human-nature-to-relax-when-not-compelled-by-personal/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## More by Po Bronson > [Curiosity is a raw and genuine sign from deep inside our tangled psyches, and we'd do well to follow the direction it points us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/curiosity-is-a-raw-and-genuine-sign-from-deep-inside-our-tangled/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [“Darling found that permissive parents don’t actually learn more about their child’s lives. “Kids who go wild and get in trouble mostly have parents…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/darling-found-that-permissive-parents-don-t-actually-learn-more-about/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [It's not easy. It's not supposed to be easy. Most people make mistakes. Most people have to learn the hardest lessons more than once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/it-s-not-easy-it-s-not-supposed-to-be-easy-most-people-make-mistakes/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [But I'd rather help than watch. I'd rather have a heart than a mind. I'd rather expose too much than too little. I'd rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/but-i-d-rather-help-than-watch-i-d-rather-have-a-heart-than-a-mind-i/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [I learned that it was in hard times that people usually changed the course of their life; in good times, they frequently only talked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/i-learned-that-it-was-in-hard-times-that-people-usually-changed-the/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [It surprises me how often we hold ourselves back until we have no choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/it-surprises-me-how-often-we-hold-ourselves-back-until-we-have-no/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [A conventional ‘success’ story is one where, with each next, the protagonist has more money, more respect, and more possessions. I’d like to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/a-conventional-success-story-is-one-where-with-each-next-the/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [I used to use business to make money. But I've learned that business is a tool. You can use it to support what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/i-used-to-use-business-to-make-money-but-i-ve-learned-that-business/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [There's a powerful transformative effect when you surround yourself with like-minded people. Peer pressure is a great thing when it helps you accomplish your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/there-s-a-powerful-transformative-effect-when-you-surround-yourself/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [The virtue of losing is we get used to the fact that competing and to lose doesn't kill you. It just makes you stronger.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/the-virtue-of-losing-is-we-get-used-to-the-fact-that-competing-and-to/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [Love that has been tested is far more awe-inspiring than love that has never known anything but bliss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/love-that-has-been-tested-is-far-more-awe-inspiring-than-love-that/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [As I get older, I've learned to listen to people rather than accuse them of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/as-i-get-older-i-ve-learned-to-listen-to-people-rather-than-accuse/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [There was a culture that came out of the self-esteem movement which was don't anybody keep track of the goals. The kids keep track,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/there-was-a-culture-that-came-out-of-the-self-esteem-movement-which/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [“Parents often fail to address early childhood lying, since the lying is almost innocent—their child’s too young to know what lies are, or that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/parents-often-fail-to-address-early-childhood-lying-since-the-lying/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) > [You know, kids need to feel like they're not being drowned out by superior competitors and they'll make that connection that, with a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/you-know-kids-need-to-feel-like-they-re-not-being-drowned-out-by/) [Po Bronson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) [Explore all 46 Po Bronson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/) ## More Active quotes > [Listening is a very active awareness of the coming together of at least two lives. Listening, as far as I'm concerned, is certainly a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/listening-is-a-very-active-awareness-of-the-coming-together-of-at/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [We in US need active intelligence: people being on the streets, people being able to stop and ask questions of individuals that they suspect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-guilfoyle/we-in-us-need-active-intelligence-people-being-on-the-streets-people/) [Kimberly Guilfoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-guilfoyle/) > [Nothing is worse than active ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/nothing-is-worse-than-active-ignorance/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [I eat healthy most of the time. Whole foods are the best for you when you are super active, so I get plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/witney-carson/i-eat-healthy-most-of-the-time-whole-foods-are-the-best-for-you-when/) [Witney Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/witney-carson/) > [Art shows us how to see things that are constructive and good, and to be an active part of that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerhard-richter/art-shows-us-how-to-see-things-that-are-constructive-and-good-and-to/) [Gerhard Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerhard-richter/) > [Love, like truth and beauty, is concrete. Love is not fundamentally a sweet feeling; not, at heart, a matter of sentiment, attachment, or being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-heyward/love-like-truth-and-beauty-is-concrete-love-is-not-fundamentally-a/) [Carter Heyward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-heyward/) > [Studying Sol's interior by looking for analogous patterns on its incandescent face is known as helioseismology, an active - if largely unpronounceable - research…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-shostak/studying-sol-s-interior-by-looking-for-analogous-patterns-on-its/) [Seth Shostak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-shostak/) > [Science manipulates things and gives up living in them. It makes its own limited models of things; operating upon these indices or variables to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-merleau-ponty/science-manipulates-things-and-gives-up-living-in-them-it-makes-its/) [Maurice Merleau-Ponty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-merleau-ponty/) > [I stayed in L.A. long enough to get on my feet, and then I moved back to New York. The reason I moved here…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iggy-pop/i-stayed-in-l-a-long-enough-to-get-on-my-feet-and-then-i-moved-back/) [Iggy Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iggy-pop/) > [The answer to any challenge you are having has nothing to do with God's willingness to help. It has to do with your acceptance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/the-answer-to-any-challenge-you-are-having-has-nothing-to-do-with-god/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [Pete Townsend for me was a huge influence. Because essentially they were a three-piece band and the way he structured his chords and took…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-lifeson/pete-townsend-for-me-was-a-huge-influence-because-essentially-they/) [Alex Lifeson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-lifeson/) > [There is an enemy. There is an intelligent, active, malign force working against us. Step one is to recognize this. This recognition alone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pressfield/there-is-an-enemy-there-is-an-intelligent-active-malign-force-working/) [Steven Pressfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pressfield/) > [Few, if any, creatures are equally active all night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/few-if-any-creatures-are-equally-active-all-night/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [You need to enjoy yourself and just get into the routine of keeping fit and enjoying being active. That's always easier once you've made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-brownlee/you-need-to-enjoy-yourself-and-just-get-into-the-routine-of-keeping/) [Alistair Brownlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-brownlee/) [Browse all 2,212 Active quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/active/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Anytime you exhaust yourself trying to relax, that's active leisure.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Po Bronson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/anytime-you-exhaust-yourself-trying-to-relax-that-s-active-leisure/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Active" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/anytime-you-exhaust-yourself-trying-to-relax-that-s-active-leisure/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/po-bronson-14479_active_anytime-you-exhaust-yourself-trying-to-r_1341844.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/po-bronson-14479_active_anytime-you-exhaust-yourself-trying-to-r_1341844.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6b/po-bronson-14479_active_anytime-you-exhaust-yourself-trying-to-r_1341844.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Anytime you exhaust yourself trying to relax, that's active leisure.” — Po Bronson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Po Bronson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/po-bronson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Anytime you exhaust yourself trying to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/anytime-you-exhaust-yourself-trying-to-relax-that-s-active-leisure/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/po-bronson/anytime-you-exhaust-yourself-trying-to-relax-that-s-active-leisure/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```