You probably have heard the adage; too much of anything is poisonous. Well, the same applies to being productive. While productivity is considered an appealing habit, it is also dangerous if left unchecked.
Sometimes we might get lost in our work forgetting that our bodies are not machines. This behavior is considered unhealthy not only because you may wear yourself out, but also because the reason behind the drive is often not positive. In today’s society, people are constantly connected and are driven by an urge to compete against each other’s lifestyles. Many psychiatrists today often urge people to take it easy, go on breaks, and discover more about themselves. In this article, I will discuss notes taken from a prominent life coach, Jason Guck, on the importance of time-out to your happiness.
What is Happiness?
Some people might think that happiness is overrated, but they are wrong. In the 17th century, an English philosopher John Locke said that every man is on an intrinsic pursuit for happiness. His words meant that for every endeavor that humans undertake, the fundamental purpose is to pursue happiness. I think we should also separate happiness from joy because some things may not be joyous to do, but can bring the most happiness. Aristotle gave the best definition for happiness. He said that happiness is achieving all goods that lead to the perfection of human nature and the enrichment of human life. An example of these goods is wealth, health, knowledge, friendship, among other things that uplift our perspectives of life.
Now, what does taking a time-out from work have to do with your happiness?
Personal and Professional Life Balance
Jason Guck agrees that money is an important part of life. However, he suggests that we should not cling to or become entirely loyal to any one thing because it leads to bad results. According to Guck, happy life requires the attainment of balance between all the important aspects. In this sense, focusing too much on work denies you the chance to acquire other valuable things like friendship and family. Since he is a family man, Mr. Guck understands the happiness associated with spending time with family. According to his teachings, spending too much time at work might result in you missing out on important milestones in your children’s lives and this has severe repercussions on the connection you both have.
Mental Health
Apart from family, spending time alone is very beneficial to your mental health. According to Mr. Guck, the ability to know who we are or better understand ourselves is cultivated by solitude and meditation. His teachings urge people to take some time for themselves and connect with the person within. It is by understanding ourselves that we can have true direction in life, and chase what matters to us. As I mentioned earlier, today, people are always in a hurry for work to live a life that is not their own. It is no wonder there is such a high rate of stress and mental illnesses. Mr. Guck suggests that before you pick that briefcase, you better know who you are and what it is you want from that work. This way you will tell what is enough and you will allow yourself to be happy.
General Productivity
In a general sense, happiness comes from a relaxed state of mind. Spending too much time at work leads to you becoming tense and you will end up producing poor results. According to Mr. Guck, mental acuity is a strong prerequisite for productivity. Therefore, taking some time off from work will effectively improve how you carry out your work which will eventually translate to you becoming happy. Moreover, Mr. Guck believes in a lifestyle invested in expensive habits; among them physical exercises. Making time for your gym requires one to set aside a time in their day, maybe an hour when they are not at work, to exercise their bodies. Physical exercise is responsible for the production of endorphins and the increased control of the amygdala which is responsible for producing stress hormones. Therefore, taking time off from work to do physical exercises can improve your happiness.
Mr. Guck’s teachings persuade people to re-evaluate how they perceive work and urge them to take a more holistic approach to live life. A whole life is a happy life.