Do You Ever Take A Break?
Is Being Busy All The Time Good For You?
I am often asked if I ever relax or take a break…have you ever been asked that question? When I’m asked this question (which is quite often) I wonder what else I should be doing and/or what the person asking me isn’t doing that they have enough time to ask me that question.
I ALWAYS answer yes, but my idea of a break is not always a complete state of rest and relaxation, but a time for me to get other things done that I haven’t had the time to do for me…I also feel better when I am busy than when I have a lot of time on my hands. I believe I inherited my busyness from my Mom—even now in her retirement I have to schedule time to call her, I never know where she is and/or what country she might be in this week or the next.
I recently had to cancel a well deserved and much needed vacation to the Caribbean which made me rethink certain things…So, before you book your ticket to your “much needed” vacation, read this…
Many of us these days feel busier than ever, multitasking on our BlackBerries, iPads and laptops as we rush from home to work/school to meetings, events, family and friends to trying to catch a few Zs in bed—then do it all over again day in and day out. Who doesn’t long for a few days on a beach or simply a few days off from our everyday lives? So, if busyness makes me and many other people I know feel good, why do people always ask me to relax, take it easy and/or slow down?
I believe that the desire to conserve energy has been around since time began, and even though people no longer need to spend their energy on basic needs, there is always excess energy building up in each of us, yet we still don’t want to expend energy without a purpose. It is not only adults, but kids too, who get bored, and a good brain teaser, game or physical activity of some kind keep them happy and balanced.
This doesn’t mean that a life of stress and excessive busyness is good for you—quite the contrary. However, everyone needs some kind of purpose and busyness for a positive state of mind and well-being. I believe that busyness still needs to be monitored and some of your activities must be focused on you, your health and other things that are important to you.
A break can also be as simple as turning the ringer off your phone or not responding to e-mail for a few hours or an entire day. It can be as simple as getting a manicure or pedicure during your lunch hour or simply leaving the office at a decent hour. When was the last time you went to lunch? Some of you reading this might laugh and think I’m crazy—but try it. Do a few little things for yourself or a few things for other people in your life that are important to you and your well-being.
There is no right or wrong, just what works for you. Once you find a rhythm, which might take a while, stick to it as long as it works for you.
Do you prefer a life filled with BUSYNESS or LEISURE?
What kinds of things keep you BUSY?
When you have some LEISURE time what do you like to do?
What would you suggest people do to RELAX?
