A Little Play is a Good Thing
In It Together
By David R. Basler
Weekends are for family around my house. This last weekend, my wife, Amanda, and our daughter decided to take advantage of the beautiful autumn weather in Dallas and visited the Arboretum to buy some pumpkins to decorate. We spent some time at the park, did some grocery shopping, a little yard work (I love to dig in the dirt!), a little woodworking (making furniture is one of my hobbies) and finished the weekend off with a Sunday afternoon outing to the Texas State Fair.
An idyllic weekend of fun and relaxation—just what the human mind needs to stay sharp, according to our cover story this issue.
I am a firm believer in the theory that without play, burnout is inevitable. So for that reason, whenever possible, I try to leave my iPhone at home on the weekends and clear my head of work-related thought completely.
My other secret for staying sharp during the workweek is to take a short break in the middle of the day whenever possible. Most days you’ll find me on a short run around the neighborhood where our office is located. It’s the perfect time to clear my head, zone out and get some good exercise at the same time.
I’ll be honest with you—I have always had a work-play routine during the week. I’ve never had a problem with work-life balance. But I’ve made a conscious effort to do so.
In my previous life, as a daily ritual, I would leave my home office in Colorado and take a hike with our dog up the mountain that was just outside my back door. When I worked in Richmond, Va., I would take a walk at lunchtime up South Boulevard where my employer was based. It worked. While my co-workers were dragging through the afternoon, I was as fresh as if the morning had just started.
The point? Downtime, breaks, play, whatever you want to call it, benefits the success of business.
If you’re a decision maker in your business, I think our cover story will present you with some valid reasons to offer your employees a little play time, and if you’re an employee, don’t be afraid to ask for some.
In an age in which mobile technologies keep us constantly connected to the office, even the smallest break increases productivity and success.
When it comes right down to it, a little play is a good thing.
DAVID R. BASLER is editor in chief of One+. He can be reached at dbasler@mpiweb.org. Follow him at www.twitter.com/onpluseditor.