Today is Opening Day for Major League Baseball and a good reminder of the importance of taking time to play. After all, baseball is really nothing more than a game – a game played by adults. My fellow Red Sox fans and I look forward to the dance that the outfielders perform following every win. These players have added a new dimension to the fun of being a baseball spectator.
My advice: put a little more play in YOUR game and see if your productivity and happiness skyrocket. Set aside that project that’s sucking the life out of you, and get outside for a half hour. You don’t need to go to a baseball field and dance with your coworkers (although that could be really fun). Put on a pair of walking or running shoes and breathe in some fresh air on your walk or run , and look at the world through a new lens (out of doors v. the inside office setting).
If you just can’t seem to take a break during the work day, make play a priority when you leave work TODAY. Do the same thing tomorrow, and you’re on your way to establishing a healthy lifestyle habit.
The weather here in the Northeast has given me a serious case of Spring Fever, and I’m looking forward to getting back to running outside. I’ll be working with the staff of a nonprofit organization to train for a 5K walk / run in early June. I’ve also signed up to run a 10K this summer. I’ve now got a sense of urgency pushing me to train throughout the spring and summer.
Find a challenge for yourself: walk a few miles a day, swim a few times a week, hop on your bike a couple of times a week. Whatever you undertake, put some goals around your play. Yes, it’ll still be play and you’ll be able to track your progress easily if your goals SMART goals:
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Relevant
Time-Bound
Enjoy Major League Baseball’s Opening, and get out there and put some play YOUR game!! As always, let me know how your play goes.
