'Work Hard, Play Hard'

My father always had a saying that has stuck with my over the years: “Work hard, play hard.”

Those words are what I design my work life around. Getting my never ending workload done as efficiently as possible to get the best outcome there is. My philosophy has always been to work twice as hard when I can, so I can be twice as lazy later.

I have always liked that balance. Many people I know fall to either one side or the other when it comes to being productive. They either kill themselves with work and leave no time to relax, or relax far too much without anything to show for it.

There are so many hardworking people around here, but their stress levels usually range from high to “about to throw a golf club into a windshield.”

On top of that, plenty of people can’t get work out of their head even when they clock out.

I have one of those jobs where I have to be ready 24/7 for whatever news pops up. Some days are slow, and others are hectic, which is why I make sure to manage my time in the best way possible. That means working hard and getting it all done when I can, and giving myself the downtime needed to recharge.

Getting in the zone deep enough while working means all of the important work gets done. I enjoy the feeling of work hard and destroying my to-do list during a set time periiod. Then there is plenty of time to “play hard” and unwind the ol’ noggin.

Not everybody can operate on this system, but I feel like it is the best way to get through any workday. Simply knowing how to get your brain in and out of work will do wonders.

Managing stress is quite possibly one of the most important skills needed in today’s high-paced world. We have fast cars, fast food and even faster technology that gives us the opportunity to get things done, well, fast.

My challenge for you next week is to work extra hard at whatever tasks are set before you. I mean really put on the gas and get things done. Get all of those nagging items out of the way like a pro. Finished everything for the week? Work on something for next week.

After all of that is done I want you to space out some time and truly relax. Do something enjoyable and commit to this relaxation time as much as you did the work time. Keep thoughts of work far away and focus on giving your brain a much-needed break.

A nice, balanced work-to-fun ratio will do wonders for your stress, and you’ll be surprised on how much work you can get done. It is important to do a great job, but don’t forget to be just as good at slacking off.