In this talk today,
I'm sharing about the power of balance,
Embracing work,
Rest,
And play.
We've all heard about work,
Rest,
And play,
But how many of us actually get past the work part?
Too many of us wait until retirement to play and say we'll rest when we die.
Is that really any way to live?
It's time to shift into a new way of thinking that enables us to start living more fully now.
Balancing the three aspects of life can help you lead a more fulfilling and well-rounded lifestyle,
Enhancing your overall sense of happiness and satisfaction.
So let's explore how to master work,
Rest,
And play.
Let's start with work.
To really enhance your workflow,
Consider your passion and purpose.
It's also important to become more aware of how well you manage your time.
When it comes to making decisions about your work,
Career,
Business,
Or acts of service,
Consider what would support continuous growth.
In other words,
What would help you stay engaged and motivated?
What time can you dedicate to that and does it align with your values and purpose and passion?
What are you feeling most called to attend to right now?
For example,
Is it that you're wanting to find work that aligns with your passions and values so that it can bring a sense of purpose and fulfillment to your life?
Or is it to efficiently manage your time at work,
To maintain productivity and avoid burnout,
Allowing you to maintain a healthy work-life balance?
Or is it that you want to embrace opportunities for learning and growth in your career,
Whether through new challenges,
Skill development,
Or seeking mentorship to stay engaged and motivated?
Which of these three really speaks to you right now?
You might want to pause this and listen to them again or write down what you know to be called to at this moment.
And then affirm your commitment to that by exploring possibilities instead of your problems and embrace your power to choose what is going to be most meaningful and productive for your life.
Prioritizing the one thing that supports all other things,
What would that be?
You can write that down too.
And then let's look at rest.
Obviously rest is important and yet we don't put enough importance on it.
Rest has become more of a wish,
Right?
It's time to restore its value,
I think.
So let's understand that rest is not just a luxury but actually a necessity for maintaining physical health,
Mental well-being,
And overall productivity.
Ensuring good quality sleep will have a more positive impact on your mood,
Also your cognitive abilities and immune system.
It's actually during our sleep time that our body has a chance to restore itself.
And one way you can enhance this is to keep a plant beside your bed.
Some plants like aloe vera,
Snake plant,
Peace lily will also actually filter out toxins and pollutants from the air,
Leading to better air quality in your bedroom.
So it really enhances your breathing,
Your environment,
And having something beautiful to wake up to besides your partner.
So studies have shown that being around plants can actually help reduce stress,
Anxiety,
And even lower blood pressure.
So this presence of greenery in your sleeping space can promote a sense of tranquility,
Aiding in relaxation before sleep.
And not only that,
It looks nice.
It's a visually appealing environment which can positively impact your mood and overall well-being.
Another benefit of having a plant beside your bed is that it can create a sense of connection with nature,
Even if you live in an urban environment.
This connection can foster a positive mindset and reinforce the importance of nurturing living things,
Including yourself.
Another way to introduce more rest into your life is to incorporate relaxation techniques.
So some examples include meditation,
Mindfulness,
Or adding hobbies into your daily routine to manage stress and recharge your energy.
It's not healthy for you or your nervous system to be on all the time,
So make sure to allow yourself some downtime to rest and replenish.
This also helps to regulate your nervous system,
Giving it time to rest and digest life's experiences and all that we're consuming.
And now let's talk about play.
Yes,
Usually we think about children when it comes to play,
But it's for adults too.
And you can view play as a form of recreation that allows you to unwind,
Have fun,
And actually enjoy life.
And this is essential for reducing stress and improving your mood.
So exploring different aspects of your interests and abilities could be one way to introduce this into your life.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
What are some of your leisure activities now or that you'd like to get back to?
Maybe there's even something new you'd like to try.
What did you once love and now never seem to have the time for?
Or what have you always wanted to try and never really made the time for that?
What do you just simply enjoy doing as a recreational or leisure activity?
Maybe you want to pause this recording and write down a few things.
Write down at least five activities you want to explore and choose one to begin this week.
And make sure to schedule this into your calendar.
It's just as important as all your other appointments.
Remember to book some time for yourself too.
You can even double up and use play as an opportunity to build and strengthen social connections.
Fostering relationships with friends,
Family,
And community contributes to your overall happiness and well-being.
So now you might be thinking,
How can I possibly find time for all of this?
The answer I would give is to prioritize and to set boundaries.
That means clearly defining your work hours and your personal time.
Just avoid over committing to work-related tasks beyond your designated working hours.
Honour your boundaries.
Similarly,
Protect your leisure time and ensure you have sufficient rest periods too by setting those clear boundaries.
So as you can see,
Boundaries include your schedule.
So developing a well-structured daily or weekly schedule that allocates time for work,
Rest,
And play.
Are you willing to do that?
And be sure to incorporate breaks as well.
So during your work hours especially,
Take short breaks to recharge so you can avoid burnout.
A popular technique is the Pomodoro technique where you work for a set period,
Maybe 25 minutes or so,
And then you take a short break,
Even five minutes.
These regular breaks can enhance productivity and your focus too,
So it's really a win-win.
Usually I'll set my timer for about 50 minutes and then take a 10-minute break.
Sometimes it's stretching,
Sometimes it's just breathing and moving around a little bit,
Going outside or just,
You know,
Doing something a little different,
Leaving the room for a minute,
Leaving your screen for a little bit of time.
It really makes such a difference.
Another small habit you can lean into is disconnecting from technology.
All right,
So how many people stopped reading right there?
Try establishing tech-free periods during your day.
Just try it out,
Experiment with it,
Explore the possibilities,
Especially before bedtime.
Limiting screen time and exposure to digital devices can improve your sleep quality and allow for meaningful rest,
A deeper rest.
And let's not forget to practice mindfulness.
See if you can be present and fully engaged in whatever you are doing,
Whether it is work,
Rest,
Or play.
Mindfulness helps you appreciate the moment and make the most of your experiences.
And so I highly recommend that you take all of these considerations into account so that you can live life fully and completely.
You might even choose to dedicate some dream time to just imagine and create and dream up how you want to be living your life.
So in the pursuit of fulfilling life,
Let us remember that achieving the perfect balance between work,
Rest,
And play is profound.
It can have a profound impact on your life,
In your own personal growth,
In your spiritual journey.
So embrace the challenges,
Learn from the trials,
And persist with determination,
Fortitude,
And discipline.
It's within this journey that you gather and find the key to unlocking a life enriched with boundless joy,
Enhanced well-being,
And the treasured moments that define the essence of true living.
Enjoy life and listen to this again anytime you need a boost or some new ideas,
Some fresh ways of thinking,
So that you can recharge and renew your life in the way that you need to at any time.
You always have a choice of how you want to live.
