Do you find yourself logging more work hours than you can count? Has your free time and “play time” gone completely by the wayside? It seems that we, as Americans, are more stressed than ever – and the sources of our stress our endless! We log more hours than we can count, not for the overtime, but simply to keep our jobs.
Think back to the first time you fell in love. Some people are addicted to this rush. Remember? You can stay up all night, eat a grain of rice and feel contentedly full for weeks. You need nothing but the relationship to exist. Love is the ultimate compliment, the pinnacle of kindness.
Caring and compassion can transcend this extreme form of love. While the power might not quite be the same, research shows that positive work environments support a strong company morale, productivity, and employee retention. Unfortunately, not enough places of employment adopt this philosophy, as many bosses still push their employees to the limit while expecting top performance.
Many other countries are a step ahead of the R&R game. In Europe, many workplaces issue massive “holidays” to their employees. More than one of the European travelers whom I have met have reported having upwards of six weeks of vacation every year. In Asia, you may very well walk past a building and see a group of colleagues exercising together – right at work. And who can forget the ‘siesta?’ Many Latin-based countries close their businesses in the afternoon for a mandatory rest period.
My intent is to encourage you for the sake of you. I know, as well as anyone, there are many times in our lives when we must do what we must do, and that sometimes means logging long hours. I also know that we need to rest. We’re human. Our bodies have requirements. Thus, you should take a few moments for you, time to recuperate, time to recharge.
The quickest, most basic of getaways can be extremely rejuvenating. Get up early and take a stroll with your favorite cup of coffee. At work, get away from the office for a few minutes, and take a walk. Take a mini vacation on the weekend, somewhere cheap. Head for the hills if you live on the coast and to the coast if you live in the hills. Time away is supposed to be simple and easy to adjust to. We’re people who have given all this up and constantly have our noses on the proverbial grindstone. We’re looking for little steps, for a balance of our time.
And if you have the means, look into something a bit bigger – perhaps something out of your comfort zone. Look for a trip with something like the Sierra Club. Or better yet, look into an adult camp (like a youth summer camp but with grown-ups!) Get out, get to know some new folks, challenge those muscles, and dare the child in you to come out and play again.
Youth camps are popular already, and family camps are starting to gain momentum, so who is to say that you cannot invest in an adult camp? There is something cathartic about getting out in nature – something inspiring and healthy. So step outside of the proverbial box, do something different and enjoy the benefits of summer camp that you will undoubtedly find. Your new friends are waiting…
For me, it took some serious indicators before I began creating that time for myself: a little heart thing, a hundred-pound weight gain, and a serious loss of “family fun time” as work took precedence were all clear signs that I needed to make a change. We’re working the long hours and going the extra mile – for what? Is it worth the sacrifice?
Don’t get discouraged as you begin this new process. While the newfound free time may feel difficult or counterintuitive, it is a new and important skill to have. So relax, and ENJOY it, reminding yourself that this darn leisure time will get easier.
I have taken the initiative to carve out leisure time, relax, and work on my own personal health – and I’ve even taken some of my own suggestions! There are plenty of voices in the media telling us what to avoid, but few of them are actually telling us what to DO for ourselves. So get out, get active, and take care of yourself. I had the opportunity to ride my bike for 40 minutes with my teenage daughter today, and this fun, free activity was the best time I’ve had all weekend. The rest of the time, I’ve been stuck on the computer!
Nature’s-classroom is the leading provider of adult camp services. We take grown ups out of their comfort zone and provide unique, engaging experiences that eliminate stress and leave participants feeling relaxed and refreshed. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service
