Life has sped up considerably in recent years because of technology and the 24 hour news cycle that we can’t seem to escape from. Many people have transitioned to at least partial remote work, which means that work never really goes away. One minute you’re vacuuming the living room carpet and the next you’re on a Zoom meeting with someone halfway across the globe. It is said that if you truly love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life. As someone who did love what he did for a long time, I disagree with that sentiment. You can enjoy your “job”, which is work, but it can consume you if you allow it to.
Finding that elusive balance is the key to a happy and successful life. It won’t come to you miraculously and sometimes we have to go look for it. You may or may not love what you do for a living, but constantly thinking about it wears you down and stifles creativity. There will always be another task to complete or phone call to make, but you have to find a way to let it go, or unplug for a bit. I was on call 24/7 from 1997 until my retirement in 2017, so I understand how difficult it can be to completely leave work behind…even for a few hours. Learn from my mistakes!
The Art of Unplugging is different for all of us, but it can be achieved with the right mindset. Step one is to admit that you have too much focus on work and not enough on play. You want to be a high achiever, but you don’t need to be a constant achiever. Try taking baby steps…find a hobby, sport, or activity that you enjoy and schedule some time in your crammed calendar to do it. Whatever you decide to do should require focus and all of your attention. When you’re thinking about what you’re doing, you’re NOT thinking about work. I think you’ll find that when you take time to recharge your batteries you’ll actually be more productive at work. You know that there is an end in sight. You know that you’ll have something enjoyable to look forward to when the work day is done. And most importantly, you will be doing something for YOU! I have said it before and I’ll say it again…though we all think that we’re pretty important and invaluable to our team, we are all replaceable in a moment’s notice. Take pride in what you do and strive for perfection, but keep it all in perspective.
Shut the news off and read a book. Try putting the laptop down and picking up a golf club. Perhaps you write off one meeting in exchange for writing down your thoughts? These simple ideas are easier said than done, but you’re the only one who can do it. We all create our own legacy and you can be known as that person who did nothing but work…or you could be remembered as a good worker who took the time to actually live a life full of adventure and fun times.
