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Labor Day – for many, it signals the end of summer, the start of a new school year, the start of football season – but what exactly does Labor Day commemorate?
On September 5th, 1882, over 10,000 organized labor group members and their families marched in New York City to celebrate a worker’s holiday and inspire improvements in their working conditions. Today, we continue to celebrate this holiday while enjoying our day off of work. But why are we only focusing on our work/life balance on this one day?
As we grow older, we are, usually by necessity, required to work and grow our career (and paychecks). The pressures of marriage, kids and retirement often cause us to feel like we must work harder for more money. Yet this focus on our careers causes unintentional shifts in the balance of our lives. Instead of enjoying our time with our partner, children and free time, there is constant pressure to ensure we are making enough money, saving enough for retirement and satisfying the demands of our company on us. But what if we looked at work/life balance a little differently and instead of working because we need to live and pay the bills, we viewed it as we work because we enjoy it and it allows us to afford those things in life that enhance our existence. But also, analyzing your chosen profession to be sure it is serving your best interests instead of draining your energy at the end of every day. A job shouldn’t suck all of your life-force from you leaving you with nothing to give yourself or your family when you get home from work. But so many people believe that to be a contributing member of society you need to punch a clock and work from 9-5 every day. But this shouldn’t be the case. Below are five tips to use to start enjoying life again, even when you may not work at your dream job.
1. Keep your body healthy. By getting enough sleep, drinking enough water and getting exercise, you are helping your body better manage the negative effects that stress can have on us. Stress is a leading contributor to almost every disease so by learning to counteract its impact on our bodies, we are one step closer to feeling more balanced and happy.
2. Remember that your job is business, not personal. Don’t let the negative criticism from bosses or co-workers get you down. It is only a job, not your life. When you are feeling defeated at the office, think about all the good things that you have at home and let that propel you to get through the day.
3. Stop trying to keep up with the Jones’s. Life is not a competition and neither is your job. Stop and think about the amount of money you really need to be happy. Do you really need to go to the mall once a week? Do you really need to take many vacations every year when one longer one would be a more effective stress reliever? Take stock of your spending habits and be sure you’re not consuming just to have a better car or more shoes than the guy down the street.
4. Take breaks at work. A common excuse for eating lunch at our desks is that we have too much to do. But why does the good of your company come before your own health and well-being? Your body is the most precious thing you have so taking care of it should be a top priority. Cramming in your food while hunched over a computer or sucking down coffee all day to keep yourself awake at your desk are not healthy or effective habits. Instead, block off your calendar every day for lunch and for breaks in the morning and afternoon. Get up and leave your workspace. Take a walk around the block, visit with a friend or go have lunch somewhere you won’t be sucked into work projects.
5. Have fun outside of the office. You’re now saying “What? I have fun!” But do you really? Or do you come home from work, open a beer or pour a glass of wine and tune out to television for the night and then do it all over the next day? That may feel relaxing, but what is happening is you are allowing your mind and body to stagnate by not stimulating them with engaging and enjoyable activities. Play a board game with your kids. Take the dog for a walk. Participate in a group event like a sports team, play group or a book club. Your mind and body will thank you.
There are so many more things we can do to get out of a work/life rut, but by starting small and implementing just a few simple changes, we can really start to find more peace and balance in our lives. So that every day is our own personal Labor Day!
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