A Good Balance Is Needed For Work, Recreation, and Relaxation

By Ken McIsaac

"The person without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder." - Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) 

On average, the hours we work constitute a relatively small portion of our life, and it should not dominate us. If you are too tired or do not have enough time to do anything in the evenings, then your daily routine may be out of balance and may need to be adjusted. Your work may be too difficult or unsuitable, or you may not be making good use of your hours during your day or evening. A good balance of our time is needed for work, goals, recreation, and relaxation. The daily routine should be examined, a plan established, and then it should be followed.

Being busy keeps our minds off worry because we can't think of two different things at one time. We can make good use of our time away from work to increase our knowledge of things and life, to work at a hobby or project, and to relax and be content. There may not be much room to maneuver if you are a working single parent, but perhaps a few hours can be found during your hectic week to do something that you want to do, or to just do something relaxing by yourself or with a friend. Take heart that your efforts are noble and are dedicated to a very important task, your most precious possession. 

"I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor." - Henry Thoreau (1817-1862) 

Most of us use only a small percentage of our capabilities and can do so much more. Learning new things gives us purpose in life and a feeling of achievement. Read nonfiction books to increase your knowledge of things in life and to learn new skills or to improve existing ones. Do something different from what you do all day at work. In undertaking a new after hours project, start with something small and complete it, so as not to get discouraged and to get a feeling of achievement when it is done. 

If under a lot of stress, a more passive and relaxing undertaking might be in order, at least to start with. A day a week, or a few hours on certain days, should be set aside for your special enjoyment. A walk in the park, listening to nice music, reading a novel, leisurely working in the yard, or a bit of TV. Avoid news or entertainment that is saturated with disasters and violence. Whatever you do, don't sit and stew. 

"When I go into my garden with a spade, and dig a bed, I feel such an exhilaration and health that I discover that I have been defrauding myself all this time in letting others do for me what I should have done with my own hands." - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

This article is taken from the free online book "32 KEYS A Collection of Ideas About Life" by Ken McIsaac. 
URL: http://www.32keys.com/

Copyright © 2001 Ken McIsaac.  All Rights Reserved.

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