Think back to when you were 5 years old. You are just an average kindergartner trying to make it to first grade. After a hard few hours of Duck, Duck, Goose and finger painting, your teacher tells everyone to drink some warm milk and take a nap. How resistant were you to this concept?
I’m sure one of the more stressful times of a person’s life would be to convince 20-plus children to stay still and close their eyes. I guarantee that if a boss or one of your professors were to announce that it was nap time in the middle the day, there would be no resistance whatsoever. Perhaps that seemingly insane kindergarten teacher was onto something.
As students, and soon to be professionals, it is easy to let a busy day of work wear on our shoulders, and every once in a while, working a little extra can be harmless. The problem is that for most it is not an every once in a while occurrence. Whether the culprit is attempts at over-achievement or, in my case, complete slackerdom, when it is time to work, the blinders come up and the world around you disappears.
The trick to surviving these work binges is to find time to step away.
If you do not believe in the power of separating yourself from work, then you need only investigate the practices of a small mom-and-pop company I like to call Google. According to Seattle PI, this revolutionary company considers it common place to provide its employees with as much as 20 percent of their time spent at work as play time. To put it into perspective that equals to one workday a week and nearly one week a month. If you think this is a silly idea, then take a look at Google’s numbers. The results are apparent.
Sadly, not all of us are going to being working at Google anytime soon, but we can all hope that they take over the world and make these perks the global standard. Until this occurs, it is up to you to find ways to get away from the monotony of the office. If you are like me, then your first instinct is to do nothing. Maybe you prefer to sit and watch TV or switch windows to tend your virtual farm.
Stop and re-evaluate your choice. Jersey Shore may seem like a good escape, and how can you resist the urge to tweet about work? Does staring at a screen sound familiar? That’s right. You have tricked yourself into believing that you have freed yourself.
Listen closely, and I will let you in on a secret. You have to do something that involves more than the sense of sight. Personally, I am a fan of the mini vacation. Daily Takeoff provides several good ideas for mini vacations, but a couple of my favorite are becoming a tourist in your own town and going hiking. You would be amazed at how much you can discover about your immediate area by opening the door. I’ve found more entertainment in abandoned and overgrown lots than Farmville can provide.
Another idea is to pick up a new hobby. Shoot for something non-work related. Personally, I am a designer, so I try to stay away from drawing as a hobby. It feels too much like work. Instead, I have taken up guitar. I am blown away by how easily an hour or two of practice can put me in my own world. If that is too active, try meditation or yoga.
There is a world of possibilities out there, so throw your computer to the side – not literally of course – and collect some stamps, watch a bird or two, or learn how to back flip. Think back to some childhood dreams you had during nap time. You might not be able to become David Beckham, but you can still hit the local soccer field.
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