Work on Weekends When It’s Important Work, Not Stressful Work
We talk a lot about avoiding burnout , quitting work after long hours, or avoiding working on weekends , but writer Sean Blanc reminds us that sometimes work can really help you recharge when it’s important to you.
While it is obvious that sometimes you have no choice in this matter, working too many hours is something we should all avoid whenever possible. However, Blanc describes the difference as “important work” and “hard work” and argues that it is sometimes beneficial to work on weekends and even on vacation when it is “important work.” Here’s an explanation:
I wrote and researched most of my Rapture in Detail while on vacation in Breckenridge, Colorado … When my wife and I had the opportunity to visit Hawaii in 2011, I wrote for hours every day.
What’s great about this kind of work is that it is real, important work. It is not urgent. This is not a busy job. It is important. My mind succeeds in this “job.”
Just like a lot of people still go hiking, jogging, and going to the gym when they are on vacation, why not let our minds work as well?
This points to a deeper problem, and it is an issue of importance, not importance. The work we do that inspires us, propels us forward in achieving our life goals — this IMPORTANT job — should not be meant for evenings, weekends, and vacations.
It’s a nice reminder that while you definitely need breaks, rest and everything else, keeping your mind busy and working is okay too. Just make sure you are wasting this mental energy on something that matters to you.
How to top up your account | Weekly in Brief