There’s a recurring scene in The IT Crowd that many of us can relate to. An employee calls the employer’s Information Technology department for tech support, and the technician who answers the phone asks, “Have you tried turning it off and on again?” It’s funny because most of us have had that experience. Our intelligence was insulted. We were disappointed that experts provided no better solutions than we could find on our own.
At the risk of doing the same, I invite you to use Labor Day to:
- Sleep until you wake up naturally
- Use a guided meditation to clear your mind
- Pray in whatever way works for you (e.g., meditating, speaking to your God, talking to a loved one, journaling, singing, playing a musical instrument)
Regardless of which you choose, unplug. You’re never really doing nothing anyway. Your brain will continue to fire thousands of thoughts (that you can ignore). Your lungs will keep filtering the air you breathe. You’ll still need to eat, sleep, etc. Let that be enough for today.
Learn to be…whoever you are…when you are not working. Do you remember who that is?
This is in part what the Labor Movement intended to protect. We take many of the benefits for granted, but people literally gave their lives so your human rights in the workplace were respected, you received better wages, and your working hours didn’t consume your entire life. Today, honor their sacrifices and show gratitude for your better working conditions by not working. Turn off. On Tuesday, you can turn it on-and up-again. I suspect you will do so in more productive ways aligned with the values and goals that matter most to you.
This is a song by my long-term partner, Peter Schmitz. Peter is “all things language”: computer, music, and spoken languages from English to Chinese, French, German, and Korean. He helps me maintains this website and helps many people keep theirs running quickly, securely, and without errors. He and I have known to write an occasional funny song together, and he can help you brand your podcast with custom music.
Need practice doing nothing?
Nance L. Schick Talks About Breaking Free From Your Toxic Patterns on Employment Law Today