Today I thought I would shake things up a bit and go with a
more introspective approach for this entry. I am sure most you are familiar
with the daily grind of always being on the go. The world we live in tries to
take every ounce of energy we have to fulfill its needs. Today I beg the
question, “Do you fulfill your own needs?”
I have a saying I tell myself daily. “Do not live to work.
Work to live.”
I know it is easy to
get in a routine where all one thinks about is work. I have a job where it is
extremely easy to do. Yes, our office is open nine to five, but the nature of
my job goes beyond such time constraints. I work nights, weekends, holidays,
etc. all in the name of something I love to do. It is so easy to get wrapped up
in work I often forget to take time for myself. When this happens I go right
back to my saying “Do not live to work. Work to live.”
Here is where I am going with this. There are a few key
things I try to do in order to get out of my work rut and focus on myself. Now
not all of these things may be for you, but it is a place to start. The whole
point of this is to take some time to reflect on yourself and how to become a
happier you.
Work Hard, Play
Harder
We all have a passion. It can be something a simple as
writing a blog all the way to hiking 14 footers. My suggestion to you is find
something you really enjoy doing, no matter how small, and make time to do this
thing twice a week. For me, it is a few things. I enjoy writing, but sometimes
with my job I end up writing for days on end, so I find pleasure in reading or
playing a video game a couple nights a week. This takes my mind off of work and
allows me to refresh and relax even during the most stressful of days.
Release Those
Endorphins
Stress can build and build when all you think about is work.
I find it very therapeutic to spend a few nights (or mornings) a week at the
gym. I get a little steam treatment, cardio, weight lifting, hot tub and the
like in, and I feel like a new man. I know the gym is not for everyone, but
just try and find something active you enjoy and do it. The hardest part is
actually getting up off the couch! I have never regretted a single workout I
have ever done, so give it a shot and see where it takes you. And the key part,
just have fun with it!
Treat Yourself
When swamped with work, family life, etc. the one person we
often forget about is our self. I know I do anyway. I think one of the most
beneficial things to do for oneself is a treat sesh. What I mean by this is
find take a few hours and go do something you like to do, but splurge a little
bit. I don’t mean monetarily, I mean emotionally. For me, I enjoy a nice trip
to the Hu Hot Mongolian Grill and a funny flick. Just spending some quality me
time with, well, me, makes all the difference.
Appreciate the
Have’s, not the Have Not’s
Pretty self-explanatory here, you have many blessings in
your life whether you see them or not. It is important to recognize what you
have, and take joy in it. I may work a lot of hours and get stressed beyond
belief sometimes, but then take a look out my apartment window and I have a
view only God could have dreamt of. It is all a matter of perspective and
choosing what to focus on.
Alright, I have done enough preaching for one post. I just
wish to share my inner thoughts with you all and hope not to sound to crazy!
Just remember, enjoy what you do, but enjoy who you are
more. I tell myself I work so I can live just as a reminder that work,
wrestling, writing, whatever it is means little to who I am and how I live.
Enjoy life people!
I myself am enjoying this damn awesome mountain view before
I watch the True Blood series finale on my DVR, another one of my guilty
pleasures.
With that, I leave you with a quote from the famous Henry
David Thoreau…
“What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as
what you become by achieving your goals.”
-Rich
No comments:
Post a Comment