"Yes - was there a boy, maybe there wasn’t a boy?” Maxim Gorky “The Life of Klim Samgin” A wonderful phrase from the epigraph that accurately characterizes the indicator that will be discussed - presence, an important component of any process in general and relaxation in particular. I’m sure you’ve encountered a situation where you seem to be relaxing, but all your attention is somewhere else: an unfinished project from work, a recent conversation with your spouse, everyday tasks (change tires, go to the doctor, water the flowers), etc. And then the question arises: “Are you resting at this moment?” And the answer will be far from clear. First, let’s define what “presence” means. I like the definition that Shari Geller gives in her book, it’s about therapeutic presence, but we’ll start from it. Therapeutic presence assumes that the therapist, being here and now with the client, is with him on a variety of levels - physical, emotional , cognitive, spiritual and relational1. It turns out that presence implies our perception of the situation at a given moment at different levels (physical, emotional, cognitive, spiritual and relational), i.e. our thoughts, feelings, bodily reactions, etc. And we can take this minimum as a basis; if suddenly, at the moment of rest, I think about something else, then we can say that I am not present in rest and thus do not rest completely. This state is perfectly described by the catchphrase “The soul is there, and the body is here.” Why is presence necessary? If we are talking about a therapeutic relationship, then the client, due to the presence of the therapist, due to his (the therapist’s) full involvement in the process, gets a good experience of acceptance, this is a full-fledged contact, when both I and the second person are here and we both perceive each other. It’s the same in rest, only there do we have the opportunity to contact ourselves, notice something that we like or that causes discomfort, fulfill our needs (for sleep, for food, for emotions, in communication). In simple terms, presence is required for contact with oneself, and as soon as it occurs, the needs become clearer, and hence it is clearer how to implement them, i.e. how exactly to relax. And this is where it gets more interesting, how can I understand that I am present or absent? I suggest you think about this topic and draw up signs of your “presence” or, conversely, “absence”. How will you understand that you are “here” or you are not “here”? For example, signs of my “absence” in a conversation with someone: I am constantly distracted (looking at my phone), thinking about something not related to this conversation (annual report), planning in advance what I will say, without listening to the interlocutor. According to these criteria, it will be possible to notice your “departure” and, as a result, return to the moment, which will allow you to be in the current situation more efficiently, and as a result, improve the quality of your rest. What about your presence on vacation? And in general? It turns out? Sincerely, Vsevolod Turbin.1. Shari Geller, A Practical Guide to Developing Therapeutic Presence. PS Link to the first part of thoughts about vacation https://www.b17.ru/article/kak_otdihat_pravilno/