The Labor of Rest

A case of the Mondays. Wednesday, hump day. Friday, the quitting-time alarm.

Phrases tossed around, bemoaning the dreaded workweek. Phrases that attempt to capture the hum-drum, exhausting, and overpowering workweek. By the time Monday rolls around, everyone is already counting down the days until the weekend, where they can sleep-in and relax. All this sounding familiar? But wait. I realized something about going from un-employment to employment: Life is so much more exhausting when you have nothing to do. The oxymoron of the year, I know, but follow me on this one. When your mind is left to focus on nothing. When your day has no real purpose. When there is no mental activity, things get rusty and slow. That slower pace leads to blah, and then BOOM! You are exhausted. Minutes of inactivity pass by and it feels like hours. Counting down the minutes until you have something to do, anything! And guess what? I know it's everyone's dream to sit around with nothing to do all day, but it is much more tiring than actually being productive. I promise you. I have some experience on this issue and am a credible source.

This realization occurred to me on my first two days at the job. The roommate had a guest in town and had planned a couple of days off for the visit. For the first time in, well, ever, I had a job to go to and the roommate...didn't. It was a strange switch that neither one of us were prepared for. I got up early and left for work, while he snoozed the morning away. I came home from work the first day to find them somewhat sluggish, which is to be expected after a day of zoning, relaxing and recharging. But day two is when my realization smacked me in the face. I came home from work, giddy, excited, energetic and ready blast off! I bounced in the door, and called out the obligatory-walking-in-the-door-from-work-greeting, 'honey I'm home!' even though he actually isn't a 'honey.' Dazed on the couch, I barely get a grunt for a hello. I initiate conversation with this couch potato, disguised as my roommate. I looked at his blood shot eyes and overall disfigured disposition and said,

'Geez, I've been working all day, and I'm the one with all the pep and energy! Your eyes are all blood shot and you don't look good! Wait, is this what I looked like when you got home from work everyday?!?!'

Not being shy with insults, he informed me that I looked even worse than he did. Wow! The truth can hurt, but beyond even that, I realized in that moment that inactivity/unemployment takes a bigger toll on a human than we realized! It would seem that rest and inactivity would be healthy and relieve stress, and in moderation, that is true. But that's the key. In moderation!

So with excitement, I take on this new labor. A labor that hopefully won't be so draining. With great joy, I say goodbye to rest and hello to wonderful work!