The balance of work and pla
y paves the road to quality living. The symmetry of these two are absolutely necessary. All work and no play or all play and no work can be self-defeating. However, blending labor with fun and leisure is a target worth the aim and the shooting. And there’s no sweeter place than the bull’s-eye of a balanced life. Yet today, few people come close to the center. Some work too much and have little or no fun while others become engrossed in entertainment, recreation and over indulgence.
Oh, go ahead and have fun, only don’t let fun have the best of you. Some folks try so hard to enjoy themselves until they defeat the reason for it in the first place–to refresh, rest and replenish from work and routine. Having fun with focus should be the goal. Vacations, family reunions, hiking, biking, and trips to amusement parks and beaches are fun activities but should be balanced with allotted times for quietness and stillness. So much is going on until it’s go, go, go. The “merry-go-round” of life is exciting for a while but eventually all riders want to stop and get off. Twenty-four hours in circles is not going to get it when it comes to enjoying a fulfilling life.
To get a new lease on life for returning to work more rejuvenated than ever, be wise in how you have fun. If fun is finished with a hangover, tired baggy eyes, more stress or a feeling of guilt for some ungodly thing that was done, what’s the purpose? Well, there is no purpose in wasted time and energy, even in the name of fun.
On the other end of the spectrum, being a workaholic can be unhealthy as well. Is it really worth it to work one’s life away and miss out on all other important aspects of living, like enjoying a mate, children, family, friends, church and community? Obsessed with the next task, a labor extremist can get so caught up in their work, career or ministry that it’s too late when they realize they are out of touch with their loved ones. It’s a rude awakening to wake up one day and realize they don’t know their wife, husband, children, family or friends anymore. So, all work and no
play or recess can be just as damaging as unbalanced fun.
Many people have been caught up in a loop between work and play only to find themselves burnt out, empty and unfulfilled. For instance, rest, exercise, and healthy eating and thinking contribute to one’s health and wellness. Without such basic discipline, eventually an individual will be too unhealthy to carry out his or her mission in life.
Understandably, preparation and process for a success requires sacrifice. Sometimes family members must give up some of their time with loved ones who are completing a degree or special training for a specific occupation, profession, or ministry. Yet, in all the prerequisites of achievement, one should strive for balance by scheduling in family and recreational activities. Although such priorities should be automatic or “a given” and seem elementary, they are the cause of many divorces and broken relationships.
So, when is work and play balanced and effective? When they both enhance one’s own life and the lives of others in some small or great way. Work and recreation should create a healthy equilibrium that enhance the quality of life. Remember, success without good relationships and work without play can leave one empty and unfulfilling. There is no need to live under par when balance and prosperity is available to us.
“There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.” – Ecclesiastes 2:24 KJV