Recharging the Batteries
An involvement in a range of life activities, keeping energised with a zest for new life opportunities
Balance the “pleasures” and “gratifications” of life happiness. “Pleasures” represent that component of happiness that is fun and enjoyable (the excitement of sex, the satisfaction of a good meal, the relaxation of an untroubled sleep in a comfortable bed). “Gratifications” are associated with personal expression in which we use our talents to become absorbed in a meaningful and challenging project, and can take pride in our achievements. Pleasures without gratifications, enjoyable though they are in the short-term, lack fulfilment in the long run and soon lose their thrill. Gratifications without pleasures run the risk of a personal intensity that can’t stop to enjoy the simple and straightforward things of life.
Life is a series of sprints; it isn’t a marathon. In life, we do get a chance to stop (not often enough it is true). How we manage these stops is critical to our success in the next “race”. Use the breaks to recover, regroup and regain your energies – physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual. Don’t use the intervals between intense work activity to switch off completely and crash out on the sofa watching TV.
“Larks and Owls”. Know your natural body rhythm. If you are a “morning person”, the individual who is at their most energetic first thing in the day, then schedule your day to tackle the most challenging problems. And if you’re an “owl, becoming more productive and creative as the day progresses, organise work to complete the routine stuff early in the day, leaving the challenging tasks until your physical and mental energies are engaged and working positively for you.
Create a positive working environment. Draw on your facility to pace yourself and keep energised to set the tone within your work area. Much of organisational life is a pinball machine; lots of people rushing around, not really knowing what they’re doing or why they’re doing it, but getting frustrated and tired in the process. Be a positive role model. Ensure that you and your colleagues take the time to clarify goals and agree ground rules to operate productively, with fun and enjoyment part of the process. Keep reminding others of the “big picture”, the key goals and objectives. Involve everyone in regular reviews to identify ways of working “smarter”. And enforce the ground rules that keep a sense of proportion about work priorities.
Don’t get a reputation for making life seem too easy. Determination and diligence are traits that are generally admired. Inputs sometimes seem more valued than outputs. Many people praise others’ energy and motivation even if they don’t result in anything of much consequence. So, don’t make your achievements seem too effortless. Others will question the achievement rather than respect your brilliance in getting things done quickly with minimal effort.
Don’t coast. Success contains the seeds of failure. If you are feeling on top of your game and in complete control of your life, the chances are that your skill levels are greater than the challenges you’re currently facing. Are you relying on past achievements or are you continuing to push into the future? Embark on new challenges that test and stretch you and provide you with the opportunity to develop additional skills and keep energising you to push on.
Keep practising. Expertise, the kind that gives you most leverage in life, comes from the commitment to keep improving your existing skills (and also when to acquire new skill sets). Don’t rely on your past education, training and experience. Conduct a regular review of your skills and knowledge. Is it up-to-date and at the edge of new thinking? Or are you lagging behind industry and professional developments? Schedule time weekly and monthly to research and read the relevant material within your vocation.
Discover a life passion. Find that one thing in life you care about and pursue it with conviction. If you are going to bed every night fully content and waking up each morning without a care in the world, the chances are you haven’t discovered a life passion, a purpose which is igniting your energies. And be imaginative in looking for that life passion. It may be an activity completely off your “radar screen”. So, widen your life outlook to find out more about other life themes (e.g. the arts, hobbies, sport, community, politics).
Keep others on their toes. You may feel on top of your game but don’t allow your positive outlook to create a culture of complacency. It can easily happen. Keep others slightly off balance by the questions you ask. When someone is doing well, give praise but also ask how they could do even better. And don’t allow the little mistakes of life to become habitual.
Move quickly. Knowing how to pace yourself is a valuable life asset. But keep alert to life’s possibilities, the kind that come out of the blue. Responsiveness and speed are critical to ensure you seize the opportunity before others. Never switch off completely. Keep in that state of awareness that keeps track of emerging possibilities,
Get out of your comfort zone. Enjoy the good times but don’t get too “comfortable”. The reality of life is that life will change, throwing up new challenges. Be proactive in planning for the next phase of your life.