Stress triggers a physiological response to fight or flee. A flood of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol are released to prime our muscles and spike our energy to run or attack.
Stress is often seen as a boon as it seems like an effective way to meet deadlines and navigate hectic schedules – people often refer to it as positive stress. However, long-term, living in “survival mode” or a state of chronic stress has been found to cause mental health issues (depression and anxiety), and is harmful to physical well-being too.
We may then turn to unhealthy coping and escape mechanisms – like binging, smoking, drinking or chugging energy drinks.
Doing things just because we feel we ‘have no choice’ would leave us exhausted and bored. We may then turn to unhealthy coping and escape mechanisms – like binging, smoking, drinking or chugging energy drinks.
We were born creative and despite a natural survival instinct, we seek adventure and risk. As we grow, we conform and get straitjacketed by societal norms of school, college, career and ‘settling down’; we shift to survival mode. The flames of our risk and adventurous instincts are extinguished along with our creativity. Our life (personal and career) becomes meaningless and depressive. Stuck in a rut.
Technology has sped things up and destroyed the demarcation between home and office.
Earlier, life was not so hectic – people had their careers and their hobbies, personal space and life. Technology has sped things up and destroyed the demarcation between home and office. WhatsApp, Email, Zoom… all reach us no matter the time of the day or place. So, we spend 50-70% of our day communicating with our colleagues, vendors, clients – in person or virtually – and this can get boring or stressful. What if we spent some of that time playing together and having fun while developing meaningful relationships?
Work is worship, and that’s serious stuff, but daily we should take time off to play games or do some fun activities at work. This is important as it boosts creativity, helps us bond better, be more understanding and, most importantly, connect not just with colleagues but our own inner child too.
That playful inner child, which has been lying dormant within us, comes out to play. We feel youthful, energetic and happy!
When we play… we cheat, shout, laugh, tease, and use our creativity. That playful inner child, which has been lying dormant within us, comes out to play. We feel youthful, energetic and happy!
