Random Thoughts on Random Words - Day 18 Rest and Recreation

We have at some time or the other heard the old proverb " All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." The proverb  traces its origin way back to 1659. What it seeks to convey is that in the absence of a break from work, not only will Jack become bored, he will also appear boring to others as well. Thus it was known since ages, that rest is very important for a healthy life style. Rest provides the opportunity to rejuvenate one's body and mind; helps monitor one's mood. In the absence of rest, your mood, immunity and memory can be adversely affected and may even result in increased stress levels.  

When I joined BEML Ltd in 1996, long time employees of the company used to recount stories about the former Chairman, Maj General Bhaskar (an ex Army officer) who was a stickler for punctuality. People adjusted the time on their watches based on the arrival of his car in the morning. It was always 8 AM on the dot. His getting down from the car and moving towards the lift was a ritual in itself watched by many in the commercial building where the corporate office was then located. 

He did not approve of the staff staying back at work after the working hours. He would peep into the chambers of officers, chide and instruct them to leave immediately for home . His belief was that an efficient person would have completed his work by the end of day and that it is the incompetent who need to stay back and work long hours into the night.  It is high time that we realized that it is not about how many hours we work, but how focused and productive  we are  at work that determines effectiveness.

The fact is that  the expectation of corporates have drastically changed since then. As for example, the expectations  in a company that I joined in 2008, was quite the opposite. There, the company valued people staying late and believed that those working late hours were the ones who were hard working. Some youngsters who had correctly gauged the mood of the organization and expectation of the boss, used to while away their time during the day and then become busy later in the evening. They remained in the office till 11 in the night, impressing the boss. As the employees lived in the township, it was considered normal to work long hours. It was the guys who worked hard from the morning who found it difficult to continue beyond 8 or 9 PM. 

In the past, if  a person never took a holiday or rest, it was his own decision. As for example a proprietor does not go on a holiday as he fears  that his absence for a week or more may encourage his staff  to swindle money. For others,  it could be the fear of someone else taking their place and  calling out their bluff of being indispensable that prevents them from taking a break.  Mr P.B. Sreenivas was a very popular play back singer in South Indian cinema in the fifties, sixties and seventies. He was the voice of Dr Rajkumar, matinee idol of Kannada cinema. 

When he went abroad in 1974, there was pressure from producer to complete recording and filming of a song that was to be sung by PBS. The music director encouraged Rajkumar to sing the song himself. The song became a big hit and the rest was history. Dr Rajkumar sang all future songs himself, as demanded by his fans. This incident may appear as lost opportunity. However in hindsight, it was perhaps all for the best as PBS had unconsciously denied himself the much needed rest and recreation for years.   

Employers, over the years, seemed to have picked up the incorrect notion that the optimum possible output  can be extracted from an employee if he works for long hours and that this policy serves the best interests of the organization. The truth is that with sufficient rest and recreation the employee  can  contribute a lot more. We have heard the story of the man who owned a goose which gave him one golden egg everyday. Although happy initially, greed overtook him and he decided to kill the goose so as to get his hands on all the eggs at one go. 

 Denial of rest without a break or rest, increases stress levels. While some amount of stress (what psychologists call "eustress")  is good for you, too much of stress can reduce the dopamine and serotonin levels in the body,  leading to mood swings, depression and bipolar disorder. Taking part in recreational activities helps to manage stress and can even serve as an antidote to stress. 

Recreation is  any activity done for enjoyment when one is not working. It has been defined as refreshment of the mind, body and spirit through activities such as playing that stimulates or watching a movie/ going to a circus that amuses. Recreation can be in the form of outdoor activities such as camping or hiking;  social activities like carnivals, parties, picnics or physical activities involving sports/ games like tennis, volley ball etc. Recreational activities gives relief from work fatigue, restoring energy and evoking  feelings of joy. 

As we discuss rest and recreation it would be necessary to talk about the importance of sleep in the same breath. Excessive work and stress of modern living can adversely affect the sleep pattern of people. Therefore, it is important to do what is necessary to get six to seven hours of sleep daily. Sleep deficit has been linked to many health issues including increased risk of high blood pressure. Ranjan Das, CEO and MD of SAP India was one of the youngest CEOs at age 42. 

He was very active in sports,  a fitness freak and a marathon runner. On 21st Oct 2012, just after the Diwali festival, he returned home from his gym after a workout, collapsed abruptly from  a massive heart attack and died. Initially, it was confusing to everyone including doctors as to how a person who was so fit physically could have a heart attack. On deeper investigation, it was found that Ranjan Das slept only for  about 4 to 5 hours in a day. Thus, sleep time, during which the body repairs and  recoups itself is a  key factor for a healthy life .

I would like to conclude this post  by reiterating the significance and importance of rest and recreation, particularly in the stress filled times that we live in. In this regard, it is to be noted that the notion of fun or relaxation varies from person to person. Therefore, it is important for us to identify our individual recreational triggers and engage in them more frequently. While it could be trekking for some, for others it could be going on a pilgrimage. Picnics, going on a holiday, taking part in a play / a poetic meet/ spiritual retreat  may provide the required relaxation. Meditation, yoga and mindfulness can all be added to one's repertoire of techniques in the pursuit of peace, relaxation and a fulfilling life. 

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