Part of our assessment during our first session with clients is to ask what their hobbies are, and what they do for rest and relaxation. Because I hear this answer so often, I am no longer surprised when they tell me, “nothing”.
In order to have satisfaction and good emotional and physical health in our lives, we MUST have “down” time when we do things that nurture us, relax us, and give us joy. Getting this “down” time needs to be AS important to us as going to work and paying our bills, even if we only engage in these activities 2 to 4 times monthly. For some it may be working out, taking the dog on walks, watching TV, reading, or scrapbooking. For others it may be fishing, playing sports, listening to music, working in their wood shop, or spending time with friends and family.
I talked recently with someone who was born and raised in Europe who told me the pace of life is much slower than in the United States. In Europe it is typical for most people to take long lunch hours (sometimes even TWO hours to give them time for a “siesta”), to NOT eat lunch at their desks, to spend time with friends at a café before and/or after work (even if it is only for 20 minutes), and to be with and talk to family members. In Europe people are not in such a hurry, and 10-12 hour work days are the exception, not the rule. The result? Less stress!
I encourage you to ask yourself what YOU do for “R and R”. It needs to be something that you thoroughly enjoy and get absorbed in to the point, for that period of time, you are not thinking about your responsibilities at home or work, or about the problems in your life. During that time, you are totally immersed in your “R and R” activity, be it cooking, playing with your pet, or sitting and doing some deep breathing exercises. Do you engage in this activity at least once weekly? Do you feel refreshed and energized afterward? If not, then perhaps you need to find something that “de-stresses” you more.
The goal is to establish a balance in our lives between work and play. We will find that if we have that balance, we will be more productive workers, better parents, better partners, less stressed, less anxious and depressed, and enjoy life more. So, what will you do this week, and for the weeks to come, to put more joy into your life? Think about it and put it into practice!
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