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| Get involved in an activity you enjoy so much that you “get lost” and forget about the clock—it might be reading, gardening, fishing, sewing, golfing, etc. |
Want to get off the all-work treadmill? Stuck in a rut? Lost your ability to play? Take a “Joy Break” from whatever activity is causing you stress and give yourself permission to play. Begin by discovering what is fun for you? Take a piece of paper and divide it into four vertical columns. Mark each column as follows:
- Joy Breaks, Less than 5 minutes
- Joy Breaks, Up to 30 minutes
- Joy Breaks, Up to 2 days
- Joy Breaks, 2 days or longer
Now, try to list fun things that you enjoy doing and place those ideas in the appropriate columns on the chart. If you are like the majority of people, your ideas probably fit into the last two columns--up to 2 days, or 2 days longer. This means that you have few ideas about how to have small doses of fun and/or you feel larger blocks of time are needed to have fun. Challenge yourself to think “outside the box” and realize that fun comes in various size doses. Next time you are in a rut, look at your list and take a joy break – you deserve it! Here are some ideas for starters:
- Start your day by reading the newspaper comics.
- Do an anonymous good deed.
- Call a good friend and eat lunch together.
- Get involved in an activity you enjoy so much that you “get lost” and forget about the clock—it might be reading, gardening, fishing, sewing, golfing, etc.
Go to the movies or rent a good movie.
- Take a few minutes to daydream or fantasize. · Take a “stroll” instead of a “power walk.”
- Find a time during the day to take off your watch.
- Eat, rest, play and work in response to your body instead of the clock.
Make a habit to add “joy breaks” throughout the year, and you are sure to see significant improvement in your energy, flexibility, attitude, teamwork and productivity. Creative play time is needed by adults as well as children!
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