Work and No Play — No Way!

Time is a valuable measure that we take for granted mostly because we put off what we can’t do today or do not feel like doing until tomorrow. This reminds me of the popular saying, “never put off 'til tomorrow what you can do today.”

I know I have the mindset sometimes that it is OK not to finish everything I set out to do that day because I think I can just push the tasks back to other days later on down the road. Other times I feel flooded with work that I am so overwhelmed to the point that I cannot complete anything; I just shut down and do not deal with reality.

We run the risk of transforming this line of thinking into a recurring habit. Almost every summer I promise myself I will clean out my room, but then something comes up or I think it can wait for a rainy day and then it never gets done.

What if doctors decided to put off doing research and experiments that could cure the world’s most deadly diseases? Delaying work may not lead to dire consequences such as this, but if we work through our tasks today we will be rewarded with the satisfaction of getting a job well done and a sense of pride in accomplishment. These good feelings can translate into other positive interactions with family, friends and even strangers, which on the whole will make the world a happier place.

Yet, the question remains, how do we motivate ourselves to get things done when we have that overwhelming feeling or think that it can wait until another day?

In my opinion, the best solution is to make a list and split it up into a schedule that is more manageable. Many times situations can seem insurmountable but by chopping the tasks into smaller chunks — these portions can become much more controllable, just like a steak is much easier to digest and swallow if it is in smaller bits.

The human attention span is not very long and it is healthier to break things up with little respites and fun activities. Therefore I would also like to encourage you to take breathers in between and remember to eat and stay hydrated. Our minds also function at a lower level if we are not taking care of our bodies and our mental health.

So if you are ever feeling stressed and overwhelmed with too much work, just remember that no mountain is too big to climb if you take it in stride and have breaks on the way up.