Everything in Moderation: All Work and No Play

“Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.” - Dolly Parton

Most adults aren't in school anymore. But we still work, alright. That's for sure. Maybe even more so than we actually did in school.

So much so, we simply call it "work." It's what we went to school to learn, in fact. Learn how to work to learn how to work. Providing for life means making a living in order to have simple luxuries like food and shelter.

"What do you do?"
We hear this all the time. Of course it means, "What is your job? What is your chosen profession?" As if our job defines us; as if we'll remain on the same path indefinitely. Quite the contrary, U.S. employees only stay in their current field an average of 4.6 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Without true purpose, it seems like that's the way it is. You know the song: everybody's working for the weekend. And so it goes, until something purposeful strikes swift like a horror film to make our hearts race in anticipation.

Many citizens are in fact involved in service work as their job-- serving the community in one aspect or another. Some have found a profession they enjoy, a career path they believe in, and therefore a passion they get paid for. They have found purpose.

But for others... for the masses? In corporate America it becomes rare to sit down and do work for personal benefit. In general, the work we do is for the benefit of others, yet that collective work is not for the betterment of a cause or a community. It is instead for the financial gain of a company. The benefit of others really refers to the benefit of big money. The little guy is flat out of luck, slashed to the side like an extra in a film's opening sequence.

Studies through Fortune and Time, Inc. revealed that upwards of 72% of national employees were stressed in their profession, 67% considered switching careers, 85% said their job intruded on their personal life, and 42% lost sleep over work.

In fact, we have it almost entirely backward in much of the work communities of society, don't we?

Instead of businesses thanking their workers for providing tireless hours of duty, often away from family, serving with time and energy at the potential expense of personal happiness, health, and even livelihood, we are expected to worship and depend on our bosses or companies as if they have given us life.

Alas, we have given themlife-- our life-- and it would benefit both parties and maybe the existence of mankind to create mutual respect and appreciation of being in an endeavor together. So long as that endeavor does not interfere in the well-being of another person or their own quest to seek content in life on earth, this relationship, this respect would be a huge step towards true progress in the workplaces of free society.

It's quite possibly an important turn for the human workplace. Not upstairs... out the front door!

Instead of the 21st century worker sludging away at banality, leaving no time for social growth or personal sanity, we would see a balance, a moderation in the workplace, and to the benefit of all involved.

A handful of businesses have picked up on this. Kudos to those who work for one. Even bigger props to those who own one. It is this axe swing in the opposite direction, one towards workplace positivity, health, and happiness, that can save morale and become the best executed business plan for future societies.

Great companies provide purpose. Purpose is a step stool, not a leash.

Create a happy and healthy human being and that life experience exudes into everything else like one massive electromagnetic wave of positivity. Everything and everyone benefits: relationships, hobbies, and particularly work.

Service projects, community interactions, fundraisers, company outings, team building, goal setting, wellness programs, fitness challenges, social events, picnics, parties, marshmallow toasts... whatever. The list could be endless. In a place full of purpose, the law of attraction then applies, and business is booming without the employee burnout.

All work and no play? It makes us dull and decayed.

Positive work and purposeful play? Now there's a plot twist worth watching for.