Urban relaxation

Don't take shortcuts
One of the best things about living in a city is how many things are made quicker for you. You can go through the touch-less car wash in three minutes, drop off your laundry and pick it up clean and folded a few hours later, you can get a complete workout in less than thirty minutes. Sure, it can be a godsend, but sometimes you want to get your hands dirty. Hand-wash your laundry and dry it outside. Fill a bucket with soapy water and scrub the car yourself. Go for a long walk or do yoga in the park (the bigger the city you live in, the less likely people will look at you funny, if they even notice). Take your time to get the task done and you'll find your head will be clearer as a result.

Slow down your food
Food, too, has gone the way of quicker is better. Get your salads pre-washed and bagged, or pick up some veggies for a stir-fry, pre-sliced and ready to go. With all the preservatives in produce these days, who knows how long it's been since it's been growing on a tree or in the earth? Buy some fresh stuff. Most cities in Canada have a farmer's market, where you can actually talk to the people responsible for growing your food. The taste of just-picked strawberries, or the heat of a still-warm loaf of bread -- you can't package that. Take the time to find some great ingredients, cook a meal and savour every bite. Not living anywhere near a farm doesn't mean you have to sacrifice the joy of eating fresh.

There are some great things about urban living. Shopping, entertainment and culture are usually in abundance. Living in a city means that if you want it, you can usually get it, no matter how obscure. But when all the hustle and bustle gets to be too much, think about how you can bring some elements from outside the city to you. You can have the best of both worlds.