Sorry Work, You Cannot Have My Entire Life

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." That's a phrase most of us are familiar with, and by the way, the same goes for all the Jills of the world too. If you're slipping into the category of working more but enjoying it less, then it is time to make certain aspects of your job more enjoyable. Feeling dull is not good for the soul.

In a previous Life Formula post I stated I try to allocate one-third of my life to work, one-third to rest and one-third to play. There is planned overlapping and sometimes an activity falls into the trilogy category. At those moments there is real bliss and harmony in knowing I'm not clocking in or out of a life category, but enjoying my life in the present moment.

Work is defined as, "Sustained physical or mental effort to overcome obstacles and achieve an objective or result." It takes much effort to achieve real estate results today. It stand to reason if we exert intense effort for eight hours then we need an equal amount of time to rest and recover before we can return refreshed and ready to suit up for another day in the trenches.

A few ways to incorporate pleasure/play and rest during the work day:
1) Music is a great stress reliever; it plays softly in the background all day at my office.
2) Move away from the computer screen; too many hours staring at a monitor creates eye, neck and shoulder strain. A recent news report said hours hunched over a keyboard can shorten your life.
3) Stand up and stretch; take water, restroom or mini sunshine and fresh air breaks throughout the day.
4) No time for exercise? Incorporate more steps into your workday by parking a half block away from homes you are previewing and errand stops. The extra surge of blood to the brain will increase your energy and problem solving abilities. You will accomplish more with less effort and time. Think of exercise as a time saver, not a time waster.
5) Take a time out; a 15 minutes rest will clear the mind and refresh the body. I keep a yoga mat at the office, in my car and at home. After a few stretches and meditation or a nap I'm recharged and ready to return to work. On days when I must move from my day at the office to an evening function with seamless effort those minutes on the mat are priceless.
6) Add a new element of challenge and risk. Routine can become boring. Take on a new challenge, do something outside your comfort zone. This is a great way to start your creative juices flowing. Robotic work is dull. Dare to fail.

We can make work less stressful by adding a few pleasurable and restful moments during our hours on the job. Work does not need to be drudgery, nor do we need to become "dull" while engaged in our chosen method of making a living.

Kindness is Infectious

The mood of the world is on the somber side, so when I saw a colleague who usually dresses in shades of black wearing a bright red sweater I complimented her. She looked stunning and it was a pleasure to see a bright spot in the office. She smiled, and her little corner of the world was energized, and I could tell her mood was lifted. A kind thought expressed with a few complimentary words can change a person's day and maybe even their life and how they live it.

Sometimes we have to fake it until we can make it. Some days it is difficult to make the phone calls, emails or marketing efforts that will generate future business. On such days I like to take a moment to recall and recognize the source of past successes. A quick thank you call or email of gratitude is a wonderful way to turn your attitude around.

Paying a compliment, noting a job well done or recognizing a kind gesture is a contagious act. Catch it, and infect everyone you meet.

Work, Rest, Play - A Life Formula that Works for Me

I stand before you and admit, "I am a workaholic." I once worked from January 2 until July 4 without a single day off. It still is not unusual for me to work several weeks without a day off. It is also not outside the boundaries of my schedule to take a three week exotic vacation to some distant locale in the world. I love to work but I also love to play.

In addition to my insane work ethic I am also an insomniac. A client, in the throes of a crisis filled escrow, recently emailed me at 3:00 AM. By 4:00 AM my response arrived much to his surprise. I must confess I've always made the most of my sleepless night in the South Bay. That's when I catch up on reading, indulge in a little Sudoku puzzle solving, practice yoga and meditate before dawn.

Love her or hate her, Martha Stewart and I share not only the same birthday (sorry, Martha, I'm a bit younger), but also the workaholic and insomnia trait. She sleeps only three or four hours per night; for years I was delighted if I caught five hours per night. The benefits of sleep are underrated, and I'm training myself to sleep/rest a minimum of seven hours. It's not an easy task but with the help of lavender oil, a sleep mask and the soothing hum of a fan I'm managing to keep my bones in bed for seven hours of rest--I'm not always asleep but resting I am.

My new "Life Formula" is one third work, one third rest, one third play. If it gets too far out of whack, I rein in the offender and spend time with the neglected aspect. Imagine, giving yourself 120 days to "play."

If you are intrigued and think this formula might work for you too I invite you to return to read future installments of this four part series.