|
Don't forget to live a little sometimes
Modern Western culture is obsessed with the benefits of hard-work. Sometimes, it seems to consume our lives. We put in all sorts of hours improving ourselves and our financial situation in order to "get ahead in life".
This is all good and as it should be. Most of the good things in life come about as a result of work.
But don't get too carried away with chasing your goals. Remember to take a break every now and again to enjoy the fruits of your labour. After all, the point of the whole exercise is supposed to be making your life more enjoyable. If you're not taking time to have some fun sometimes, then the whole thing is in vain.
An advertisement I once saw for a travel company summed it up quite well: "In the great scheme of things, your work is insignificant. Have a holiday."
Believe it or not, the whole world probably won’t come crashing down around you if you decide to take a bit of time off. It got on perfectly well without your input for billions of years, and will probably be able to manage on its own if your cellphone is switched off for a few hours.
Make sure at least once a day, and for at least a few days a year, to spend some time having some real rip-roaring fun. Something that makes you laugh out loud and forget about all your troubles.
I'm not talking about play that's really just work in disguise - such as going to the gym, study, or throwing a big show-off party. What I'm talking about is something that has no point, purpose or reward except its own enjoyment. Good examples are watching a funny film, deciding to have a barbeque for dinner, or going for a walk in the park.
After all, you're only alive for a few short decades. There are billions of years either side in which you won't be here at all.
We live in a world where we want to achieve stuff. We all wish things were different from how they are, and realise it's possible to put in some effort to make them so. Those who know how to get off their backsides and get things done appreciate that the rewards for doing so are often worth it. But keep it all in perspective and enjoy a bit of work-life balance.
Your time on this planet is the most precious gift you'll ever be given. This is particularly true of your youth. Don't squander the whole lot making yourself miserable in pusuit of some abstract goal. Save at least a bit of it for yourself. Burn that bit up by having some fun and remembering how great it is simply to be alive.
 | Don't get sucked in by empty promises | | I was at a work function last night where we were all getting treated to free drinks and food. There was a very attractive girl there who was enjoying the attention of many of the men. |  | Take the initiative in establishing new relationships | | The world is filled with people who are dissatisfied with the state of their relationships. They think they haven't got enough others in their lives, or else they believe the others they have aren't up to scratch. Whether it's friendships that are missing or something more, a lack of satisfactory relationships is a common complaint. |  | Don't hate your body too much, it's the most amazing machine on the planet | | We live in a society fixated on machines and gadgets. The media obsesses over iPods, BMWs, laptops and phones. And we consumers gobble up every titbit of information available on those topics. | | Science is the closest thing to verifiable truth that we have | | Wait! If you're the type of person who reads the word "science" in a title then moves quickly on, then this is an article you need to read. I promise it won't be boring. |  | Become excellent at creating new opportunities | | The scouts have an excellent motto. It says simply “Be prepared”. Whether or not you have ever been a scout or a guide, this is a good attitude to have towards life. | | Incompetent people tend to overestimate their skill level | | Something interesting happens to me whenever I try to learn a new skill. I tend to underestimate just how hard it's going to be. For some reason, part of me thinks I'm going to be naturally talented at it, even though I have no evidence for that being the case. | | We're all just lost at sea | | Picture this. You wake up to find yourself aboard a huge old sailing boat. You can't remember who you are, or where you were before. You can't even remember what your name is. | | Perfect contentment leads to stagnation | | Have a look at how so many of us live our lives. We get up in the morning, go out all day and work, work, work. Whether in a rich country or a poor one, a good neighbourhood or bad, you can be sure that most of the people around you will be working most of the time. | | Find the right balance between improving your situation and enjoying it | | There's a funny scene in the film "Thank you for smoking" where the main character, a public relations shill for the cigarette industry, is asked how he can do such an unethical job. "Everyone's got to pay the mortgage", he replies. | | The world's best investment | | Many people don't think of it consciously, but much of our lives are spent deciding how to invest our resources. Families decide whether to move into a bigger house, or save their money and stay in the current one. Young women decide which man they should bet their reproductive potential on. Workers ponder what they should do with their holidays. And so on. |
New articles are being added all the time, so make sure you bookmark Paul's Tips and come back.
|
|