Check out this thought by George Matheson, a blind 19th c. Scottish Presbyterian minister:
What a strange cure for mental weariness…I should have expected an invitation to mental rest….The weariness of the body is cured by slumber, but the weariness of the mind can be cured only by stimulus.
He said this as he was meditating on Hebrews 12:3 (Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart). He suggests that an active meditational life on the work of Jesus will help promote rest and protect from mental weariness.
Quote found in Leaves for Quiet Hours, p. 141 (1904)
[reblogged; first published 2/8/07]
Musings on Faith and Psychology 
Thank you. This is the answer I was looking for 🙂
Interesting! The body needs rest to relax while the mind needs exercise to relax. Lovely concept and practicing it increases productivity. What could be better?
True. The key is the *right* kind of exercise. Ruminating worry is an exercise, but not one that leads in the best direction…
Appreciate this very timely reminder. Love Psalm 119:50, “In my affliction, my comfort has been that Your Word has revived me.”
Fran, helpful addition! Thanks for the reminder of that verse.
not totally ‘stimulus’ then – “Be still, and know that I am God”
right. still/know; requires cessation of certain activies and engagement of other present tense activities.
Much weariness of the mind is caused by over stimulation. In that case I would definitely not recommend more stimulation. Christ’s remedy was to go away from people and up to the mountain. He also took the disciples away from the crowd at times for similar rest.
I wonder what was the context of Mattheson’s thought?