Work Hard, Play Hard?

by Bo Hayes February 17, 2017

That phrase is more than just a rap song or saying. As cliché as it sounds, it's absolutely essential to a healthy life. Balance is a necessity in our lives. The hardest part though is usually finding that fine line where you can actually balance the two. You can't always work and spend all of your time grinding. Eventually, it's going to suck the joy out of life even if whatever you're doing is something that you really enjoy, or at least used to enjoy. On the other hand, you can't spend your whole life playing or you're never going to accomplish anything and life has too many endless possibilities and opportunities for us to not make anything of ourselves. We were never meant to live mediocre lives. That's where the balance comes in.

Life doesn't happen to you, it happens FOR you. So why wouldn't you want to take full advantage of it in all aspects of your life? There's going to be times when, even though you don't want to, you're going to have to put your head down and grind. on the other hand, there's going to be times you feel like you need to do more, but the best for you at that moment might be letting yourself unwind a little bit. I'll explain to you why the time for both goes hand in hand. It's perfectly okay to want to work hard. If you ask anybody that really knows me, they'll tell you I have one of the strongest work ethics of anybody that you'll meet. But here's the thing about work ethic. It doesn't take talent. It doesn't take talent to try. It doesn't take talent to push yourself. All you need is a lot of will power and commitment. Not motivation, but commitment; commitment is what you have left when the motivation fades away. And above all else, you have to believe in and be fully invested in what you're working towards. On the other end of the spectrum, anybody that really knows me will also tell you that I absolutely love living life. I truly enjoy everything that is around and never take life for granted. Like I said earlier, there's a time for both. Obviously, there's going to be times when you want to have a little fun and relax and you might not be able. Take an athlete training for a competition coming up as an example. But, there has to be a little bit of both. Without finding time to actually enjoy life, you risk burning out. You'll lose your drive and start failing to see the bigger picture that you're working towards. Taking time away from your job, or sport, or whatever it is you're doing allows your body and mind to reset a little bit and gives you a new sense of drive for when it's time to go to work again.

So remember that as you head into the weekend. It's essential to separate life and work in order to fully enjoy everything around you. On a diet and craving something sweet lately? Go for it, you've earned it. That's where the balance comes in. One little cheat meal never hurts. Hang out with your friends, or do something to unwind. Just LIVE, and actually experience life. It's okay to let go sometimes, remember that. There should never be guilt associated with it. If there is, then you've missed the whole point. It's a time to remind you how blessed you are, maybe to reward yourself, or just reset yourself sometimes. Life is meant to be FULLY enjoyed. So work hard. I mean absolutely chase what you want to do with all that you have. But, at the end of the day make sure that you experience life, don't just be present for it.

-BH

"You don’t have to make yourself miserable to be successful."-Andrew Wilkinson