Do you ever feel like you spend too much time looking at the same walls? Surrounded by your favourite things at home you can become comfortable and not feel any reason to change. Having a comfortable job which doesn’t stress you too much can have a similar effect. Why rock the boat, eh?
This is the problem though, no stress equals no gain. That doesn’t mean we should all hate our jobs and be stressed out of our minds, but if everything is too easy what do you learn, how do you improve.
This may seem a silly example but I believe it was a valuable one for me, maybe even for you too. There was a recent room swap in my family, including my wife and I moving into a different bedroom. This involved some new colours but also a reorientation of the bed. Facing a different direction after a few years has made such a difference to my thinking and my mood. I feel like I have a new outlook on life, a fresh feeling when I go to bed and when I wake in the morning. It doesn’t have to always involve a radical move of rooms but I will definitely be attempting to not let the view from my bed get too staid again in the future. A change of decorations or just moving around what I currently have could do the trick.
It is the same with working life, every now and again it is time for a change. I have my hopes and my dreams for the future but right now I have a comfortable job which suits my family and my lifestyle. The only problem is I have been doing it for over 12 years, I have even been in the same office for all that time. I think the colour of the walls changed once but that is about it. I have tried plants, the bonsai died so I would recommend a cactus. There are small changes you can make to your environment but the main thing for me has been to get myself out of the office more often during the day.
I am lucky that I am not bound to my desk so the occasional walk outside is possible, and if I have more free time then I really try and stretch my legs. When I get back I feel fresh and ready for action because using our free time in this way can be both calming and useful. Education is easily available to all via podcasts or audiobooks, which can be listened to on that stroll, and this can make that relaxing time also productive. But I try and ensure I don’t get lost in the books totally, it is important to use your eyes and take in the scenery too.
I could have stayed at my desk to write this post but I decided on a change today. Even though I love my desk and have made it personal and comfortable it is still good to do something different. Sitting in the local park, feeling the sun and wind on my back keeps me focused and vital. No tiredness, of the eyes or brain, just a bit of a sore bottom from the park bench. Perhaps a bit of discomfort is a good thing too, just a bit.
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© Neil Hayes and neilsworldofenglish
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