work sets you free
I trust you’re working a twelve hour day, take a shiny apple in for the boss on Fridays, hobnob with the powers that be on every opportunity and are fully committed to the prospering of the rat race? Good on you if you are and shame if not. And if you are in the latter group you really do need to worry. The current thought in the developed world is that stress is good and lunch really is for wimps. Relax, chill and stay calm and you’re TAKING years off you life. Upping the pressure, striving and competing keeps you mentally fit. Recent neurological studies show that the frontal cortexes of our brains love it when we compete and succeed and very kindly give us a shot of cocaine-like beta-endorphins as a reward. Yummy.
As a state of mind however, neither work or play are not particularly desirable or rewarding in themselves, it is the sense of purpose that has the positive effect we’re searching for. In the case of work, this comes from an appreciation and enjoyment of your work colleagues and environment, from being genuinely interested and involved in your work and/or being valued by your boss for your particular contribution. When none of these motivations are evident then your life outside of work has to provide the missing links. So, living to work is as good as working to live is. It looks as though the key element is that, be it work or leisure, you get out of it what you put in.
And don’t forget that the harder you work, well the more virtous and sanctimonius you feel, and the more you deserve a bit of self-indulgence.
