#88: Turning Work Into Play

A BRIEF MEDITATION

Take a deep breath in. Visually immerse yourself in a light and calm body of water. A dolphin nearby navigates the serene, sunlit waters nearby. It glides effortlessly, diving deep and leaping joyously into the air.

This dance with the waves mirrors a natural balance at work—diving into tasks with focus yet emerging with joy and lightness. Let the dolphin's playful essence inspire you to approach "responsibilities" with a sense of ease. Transform the mundane into a game. It's not so serious.

➜ Go to your dashboard*

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MANTRA BREAKDOWN

Let's break this mantra down.

"Breathe deeply" is not just a physical act but an intention to inhale vitality and inspiration while exhaling self-doubt and the pressure to perform.

By centering ourselves through breath, we tap into an inner power source, approaching our tasks with a clear mind and a light heart.

In a culture that equates hard work with overworking, "work lightly" invites us to reconsider our relationship with effort.

If you hold on too tightly (or care too much), try cultivating a healthy dose of detachment from your work. The spaciousness we bring to your goals allows room for creativity and genuine joy of the process to emerge.

Ironically, more detachment drives clearer focus, and as a result, increases productivity.

Being centered fuels sustainable and joyful action. Not the other way around.

Let this mantra be a reminder for moments when you’ve slipped into patterns of over-effort or when you no longer experience joy in the work.

HOW TO TURN ORDINARY LIFE INTO A GLORIOUS GAME

• "Play is the highest form of research." – Albert Einstein

• "This is the real secret of life—to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play." – Alan Watts

• "The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can." – Neil Gaiman

➜ Go to my dashboard*

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WHAT IF YOU ONLY NEEDED ONE RESOLUTION THIS YEAR?

Let’s cut through all the noise around New Year’s resolutions with simplicity: Don’t stress about coming up with a bunch of resolutions that take a lot of work and planning and might never come to be.

Focus on making changes that stick by finding a therapist who can help you figure out – and then hold you accountable to – what you want in life.

There’s a beautiful simplicity in having one, self-fulfilling resolution for 2024: starting therapy. Your other goals for the New Year will naturally follow.

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MOMENTUM TIP OF THE WEEK

Transform any task into a game by putting a time limit.

Using time puts enough pressure on a task to make you focus better, allowing you to get more done than without one.

If you're feeling anxious about your task, time limits also let your brain know that there's an end in sight!

Try this:

1. Think of an important task you'd love to make progress on.

2. Consider: How long can you reasonably work on it before you start burning out? (Start with less than you think!)

3. Can your initial task be accomplished in that time? If not, break the task down into smaller pieces. Be specific about the desired outcome.

Examples:

• ❌ Clear inbox ➜ ✅ "Explore 3 topics to email Eric" [20 mins]

• ❌ Study for test ➜ ✅ "Make flashcards for Chapter 2" [20 mins]

IT’S ALL GOOD (NEWS)

Here are a few stories that may spark curiosity and wonder. ✨

• 🦔 Biodiversity: UK Hedgehog Sightings on the Rise After Years of Decline

• 🎸 Culture: How an Adult Camp in St. Petersburg Creates Confident Female Rock Stars in 3 Days

• 🌥 Sustainability: The EU Is Formalizing Rules for Taking CO2 out of the Atmosphere

• 👦🏽 Cool Humans: 8-Year-Old Prodigy Makes History After Beating Chess Grandmaster