Redefining Resilience: Finding Balance Beyond the Work Desk

After several years of disruption and uncertainty, many have learned to appreciate the importance of resilience. “Resilience” is more easily described than created.? For example, focusing solely on improving one’s workplace, without considering the factors that eliminate professional hurdles, misses the mark. True resilience is important both within and beyond the workplace.? It includes rest, rejuvenation, and meaningful personal pursuits.?

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The portal into resilience is meaningful and effective rest. I have long struggled with this “activity”, especially during the pandemic.? Indeed, the way I measured my productivity was counting the things I “got done.” ?I worked harder than usual because I felt guilty about taking breaks, and deemed anything that was not work-related as dilatory. My family helped me realize that attitude is neither healthy nor sustainable. Rest is not sloth; it is an affirmative feature of a healthy life.?

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To be truly productive a person should pursue meaningful activities outside of work.? I derive fulfillment from civic engagement (nonprofit boards and efforts), working out, and developing new skills. (I have yet to master my trumpet!)? My “downtime extra” activities have taught me skills that enhance my work life. This is not an uncommon occurrence either: Olympic Diver Tom Daley has gone on record about how he owes his gold medal to his knitting hobby. This is not only because it helped him de-stress between events, but because it also gave him an outlet to feel accomplished about something other than his career.?

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To be sure, not every job provides a steady diet of meaningful activity and accomplishment. Moreover, ?not every job affords the possibility of doing what you love, and not all of the things one is passionate about are viable ways to earn a living. Even if you are deeply passionate about your career (and I certainly am), there will always be parts of the job that aren’t fun or fulfilling. As such, engaging in challenging, skill-developing activities not only mitigates work-related stressors but can create a stronger sense of accomplishment and fulfillment in our daily lives. The key is to build a diverse menu of activities that includes rest, personal growth, social interactions, and laughter.

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Of course, something to keep in mind is that there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to balancing work and rest. What works for one person might not work for another. I experimented quite a bit with different personal pursuits to find what resonated with me, and if you will likely need to do the same to figure what forms of rest serve you well. Try several paths to discover the most effective strategies for resilience. Also, don’t feel like you need to invest your all towards a hobby: not everyone is cut out to be an expert-tier artist, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t find value through art.? The aim is to create a program what fits your needs.

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Resilience is, arguably, more important now than ever.? Keep in mind that resilience is a “whole life” art, not something confined to workplace challenges.? Resilience requires awareness of the momentary concerns: e.g. family stress, illness, or an unrelenting temporary schedule nightmare.? Resilience requires a full appreciation of the importance of rest, rejuvenation, and personal growth. Since embracing this mindset, I have gone from feeling guilty about taking breaks to enjoying a variety of diverse activities. As a result, not only am I more productive at work, but I also feel more fulfilled outside of it. I would encourage everyone to explore their path toward resilience by integrating engaging rest and diverse focuses into their lives. Remember: when you give yourself room to thrive outside of the confines of work, you will bring your best self to the job.

?Sources to reference:

1. https://hbr.org/2019/11/the-unexpected-benefits-of-pursuing-a-passion-outside-of-work
2. https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/olympic-diver-tom-daley-owes-gold-medal-to-knitting.html
3. https://www.forbes.com/sites/biancabarratt/2021/06/03/how-embracing-your-inner-artist-can-relieve-stress-and-make-you-better-at-business/?sh=1634ab395e81