There’s an old saying that goes, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” That saying has a lot of truth to it, but it actually goes much deeper than that. This week, we’re talking about the importance of recreation and what happens when we don’t take time for ourselves.
If you’re like me, you have a lot of goals. You want to excel in your field. You want to provide for your family. You want to achieve success. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting any of those things for yourself.
However, those things aren’t all there is to life. And sometimes, we can get so focused on our good goals that we forget there are other good things in life, too.
There’s more to life than making money. There’s more to life than being productive. There’s more to life than being respected and applauded and commended.
There are good things in life that have nothing to do with work, and we need them in order to stay fit.
People call these activities a lot of different names. Some call them hobbies. Others call them recreation. I like to call them good, old-fashioned fun. But whatever you call them, it’s important that we each take the time to engage in unproductive, enjoyable activities every once in a while.
It might seem backwards, but these activities actually make us better at our work. They protect us from burnout. They keep us emotionally fit and happy, which helps us stay motivated. They foster creativity and passion, aspects of life that we desperately need.
When we don’t take time for recreation, we become run down. Our minds and our bodies become unhealthy because they aren’t getting the rest and relaxation that they need. This becomes a huge roadblock between us and the things we want to achieve.
You might think that focusing on our goals 24/7 would make us more successful, but actually, the opposite is true. Giving ourselves time to take a break, to breathe, and to do something we truly enjoy actually makes us more healthy, productive people.
When was the last time you went more than a minute without thinking about work? Or the last time you laughed so hard that it hurt a little bit? How long has it been since you dropped everything and just had a little fun? Can you even remember?
If I’m being honest, there are times when I’ve gone way too long without any down time. No recreation, no hobbies, nothing. And I was worse off for it. I feel the most satisfied, accomplished, and happy when I construct my schedule in a way that makes my life well-rounded, and that includes making time for recreation.
For me, that means trout fishing, longs walk with my dog, and taking the family to see a ball game. (Funny enough, my idea recreation is watching someone else’s work!) Your idea of fun might be completely different from mine, and that’s perfectly alright. But whatever it is, you have to find it and make regular time for it. It’s the only way to stay fit.
We were made to have down time. When we deprive ourselves of the recreation that we need, we aren’t doing ourselves any favors. So let’s give up this prideful idea that we can work all the time and never play. Instead, let’s take the time to have some fun.
What are your hobbies? How can you make more space for recreation in your schedule? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on social media. We’re all in this together, and that means we have to support one another in these efforts towards health.
That’s all for this week. Until next week…
To your fitness!