"A Day On," and NOT "A Day Off!"

I will admit I borrowed that title from the Craigs list founder in his blog. For the original blog go here. However, I am using it from a different perspective. That one small phrase got my head turning. So often, during the course of our professional lives, we long for the next day off. In fact I know someone who has counted up all the days off we get in our professional lives and discovered that there are only 2 months I think where there is not a day off. Don't quote me on that as I am not entirely sure if I am recalling that correctly. For those of you who know me, I am greatly into a sense of empowerment. And much of that has to do with how we think of things. I believe this concept was birthed in me when I came across a concept in child rearing. Oftentimes as parents, we get entirely frustrated when our child is strong willed or stubborn. In the realm of parenting, these become a negative aspect. However, if you choose, you can reframe that to see the benefits of something. Take stubborness....one of the banes of parenting. However, the flip side of that is a) perseverance and/or b) a refusal to succumb to peer pressure. Both very good characteristics to have in a child. Trust me, when my kids stubbornly refuse to do something the way I have suggested, I take a deep breath and remember the benefits to that particular trait. It's a matter of re framing. Now, don't get me wrong, I am not a huge fan of positive psychology, but, when used in specific circumstances, at the right time, in conjunction with other forms of therapy it has its benefits.

Sorry for the rabbit trail there. Back to a day on and not a day off. So many times, in our professional lives, we long for that day off where we can perhaps catch a breath from the overwhelming stresses of our working lives. In and of itself, this is not a bad thing. Down time to rejuvenate, relax and rest are critical to our mental well being. Our bodies are designed to rest. If we refuse to honor that then our bodies will find another way to rest and that often takes appears through our bodies shutting down or getting sick etc etc. Personally, I would prefer to be in charge of how I rest and do it without illness. So days of resting and relaxing our critical to our heath and well being: physical, mental and emotional included.

Again rabbit trail...sorry. So Day On vs. Day Off. Often times we long for that day off, when we can relax. But how many of us really do? How many of us de electronify ourselves our day off? Do we shut down email and our blackberry's? Or do we still insist on being in the loop and accessible? I wonder what would happen if instead of longing for that day off, if we approached our days with the mentally of this is a Day On for me? So what can I accomplish today? How productive can I be on my Day On? What can I do today, on my DAY ON, that will propel me forward.

If we took this mentality, I wonder if our level of productivity would increase so that we can fully enjoy our days off without feeling the need to be completely connected with our professional lives. That way we can completely relax and rejuvenate ourselves in preparation for our next DAY ON.

So what can you do today on your DAY ON?