Years ago I heard that the most productive people and the most creative people take regular breaks from the work they do. They take time to rest and relax.
Recreation
As I was growing up, I was led to believe that recreation meant a time of play. You played baseball, football, basketball and these were recreation. Swimming, racing and bike riding were forms of recreation. Even going to movies or playing card or board games.
It wasn’t until several years ago that I came to realize that recreation was something much more. Actually during those times when anyone takes a break from the work they do, when they get away and immerse themselves in something they really enjoy,
They Are Re-Creating Themselves
They are actually allowing their minds, bodies and spirits to take a break, unwind and renew so that they can go back and do their best work again. When they don’t take this time away, they have a tendency to get exhausted and to burn out more quickly. They do not produce as much as they normally could. In addition the quality of what they do actually drops.
If Recreation and Re-Creating Myself is so beneficial for me, then
Why Is It So Difficult to Take a Break and Get Away?
I have found that I have three problems.
The first is that I am a Workaholic. Somewhere along the line I felt that I had always to be working. I couldn’t be idle. When I take time to relax, that little voice in the back of my head says that I can’t do that. I have too many things to do. Unless I do them, I will fall further behind.
The second is that when I do get away and relax, I turn whatever I am doing into work. Let me give you an example.
I enjoy riding a bike. When I started riding, I took my time and really enjoyed myself. I had no fixed agenda. I rode for as long as I wanted and just enjoyed what I was doing. Now I have to accomplish something when I ride. I will ride for an hour or two and I have to average ten miles per hour. If I do that, I will also be exercising in addition to riding. That exercise will be good for me. While I still enjoy riding, I have to fight myself not to turn it into work.
The third is that I allow others to cross my boundaries too frequently. I will plan some time to rest and relax. A friend will call or come along and ask for my help. I end up helping them rather than taking care of myself.
If I am going to rest and relax, If I am going to take time to re-create myself, I have to deliberately take the steps to do so. I am getting better at. I still have much further to go.
If you have no problems getting away, relaxing and re-creating yourself, please leave a comment and let me know how you have been able to do so. I know that I and others like me would welcome your suggestions.
If you are like me and have difficulty taking time to rest and relax, just remember that it’s something to work at. Carve out a certain amount of time every week for yourself. Make that your special time. Don’t let anyone steal it from you. Spend that time doing something you really enjoy.
Start this week.
Bob Paroski
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