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We have an infinite capacity to find ways of entertaining ourselves. I recently heard about a South African
sport called Kudu Spitting. A Kudu is a kind of antelope and participants collect the cherry-sized kudu
droppings and see how far they can spit them. Yes, we are talking about kudu poop and yes, they spit it with
their mouths.
Play is magic. It makes time seem to pass more quickly. No matter how strenuous or challenging the play
is, we are motivated, energized and rejuvenated by it. Play inspires us to improve our performance. We
strive to get better and better and when we are done, we look forward to the next opportunity to play.
Wouldn’t it be nice if work could be as much fun as our favorite games? Imagine having fun at work all day
long and coming home afterwards filled with energy and looking forward to going back the next day!
When you think about it, the biggest notable difference between what we do for work and what we do during
play is really a matter of attitude. Play can be physically challenging and mentally stressful. It often requires
coexistence, if not out right cooperation with others.
Buddhist philosopher Alan Watts identified the critical difference for us. When we feel compelled or
obligated to perform a task, it feels like work. When there is no sense of obligation, whatever we are doing
feels more like play. When we treat everything we do, including work, as play, a sort of miracle happens. It
all becomes rather fun.
Now, among mundane and boring jobs, bagging groceries has to be in the top ten. A few years ago, I took a
job at the local grocery store while recovering from two spinal surgeries. I just needed to get out of the house
and do something physical. In order to inure myself to the lack of mental challenge, I created a number of
little games. I mentally evaluated how healthy each order was and devised a ranking system. I also
challenged myself to see how quickly and efficiently I could bag large orders using fewer bags. As I collected
shopping cars from the parking lot, I worked toward increasing the number of carts I could manage and
navigate without losing control of them.
According to Watts, the key to my ability to convert bagging groceries into pure play was the fact that I didn’t
feel obligated to do it. I was in that job because I had specifically chosen to do that work for my own
reasons. But, it is not difficult for me to apply the same standard to anything that I do. I have chosen my
career. I choose my clients. When I commit myself to a particular project, I voluntarily sign the contract. I
may make that choice because I want or need the money but the choice is mine all the same.
According to an on-going work-life balance survey by Integrity HPI, 24% of survey participants feel trapped in
their current job. Trapped, stuck, unable to break away, in other words, they feel obligated to continue. It
might be difficult for those people to convert their jobs into play but they are the ones who would benefit most
from doing so. It is possible that they are in the wrong job yet I suspect that they are more likely in the wrong
mind-set.
If someone working in the South African bush could think up Kudu spitting, you can creatively find ways to
make your job fun and exciting. Give it a shot. Have a go. You’re it!
sport called Kudu Spitting. A Kudu is a kind of antelope and participants collect the cherry-sized kudu
droppings and see how far they can spit them. Yes, we are talking about kudu poop and yes, they spit it with
their mouths.
Play is magic. It makes time seem to pass more quickly. No matter how strenuous or challenging the play
is, we are motivated, energized and rejuvenated by it. Play inspires us to improve our performance. We
strive to get better and better and when we are done, we look forward to the next opportunity to play.
Wouldn’t it be nice if work could be as much fun as our favorite games? Imagine having fun at work all day
long and coming home afterwards filled with energy and looking forward to going back the next day!
When you think about it, the biggest notable difference between what we do for work and what we do during
play is really a matter of attitude. Play can be physically challenging and mentally stressful. It often requires
coexistence, if not out right cooperation with others.
Buddhist philosopher Alan Watts identified the critical difference for us. When we feel compelled or
obligated to perform a task, it feels like work. When there is no sense of obligation, whatever we are doing
feels more like play. When we treat everything we do, including work, as play, a sort of miracle happens. It
all becomes rather fun.
Now, among mundane and boring jobs, bagging groceries has to be in the top ten. A few years ago, I took a
job at the local grocery store while recovering from two spinal surgeries. I just needed to get out of the house
and do something physical. In order to inure myself to the lack of mental challenge, I created a number of
little games. I mentally evaluated how healthy each order was and devised a ranking system. I also
challenged myself to see how quickly and efficiently I could bag large orders using fewer bags. As I collected
shopping cars from the parking lot, I worked toward increasing the number of carts I could manage and
navigate without losing control of them.
According to Watts, the key to my ability to convert bagging groceries into pure play was the fact that I didn’t
feel obligated to do it. I was in that job because I had specifically chosen to do that work for my own
reasons. But, it is not difficult for me to apply the same standard to anything that I do. I have chosen my
career. I choose my clients. When I commit myself to a particular project, I voluntarily sign the contract. I
may make that choice because I want or need the money but the choice is mine all the same.
According to an on-going work-life balance survey by Integrity HPI, 24% of survey participants feel trapped in
their current job. Trapped, stuck, unable to break away, in other words, they feel obligated to continue. It
might be difficult for those people to convert their jobs into play but they are the ones who would benefit most
from doing so. It is possible that they are in the wrong job yet I suspect that they are more likely in the wrong
mind-set.
If someone working in the South African bush could think up Kudu spitting, you can creatively find ways to
make your job fun and exciting. Give it a shot. Have a go. You’re it!
Balanced Life Tip: Work As Play