IIt does not happen often, but sometimes I find myself bored.  This week I find myself working remotely with my toes in the sandy.  Without the distractions of the office, I am actually finding myself completing my normal task list with time to be bored.  So how does someone who is usually as busy as a bee handle boredom?  I have learned to embrace this simple and rare luxury as a gift to take a break from responsibilities and to-do lists.

My friends are sometimes startled to find me doing something other than running a three-ring circus and my mind is constantly abuzz with thought.   With all of the "noise" of everyday life, sometimes I have to get away from everything and enjoy the silence.

It might be considered lazy or even a bit taboo for someone whose life is normally so structured and scheduled, but I relish being bored.  My friends might not like it when I get bored, because they see it as abnormal for me to be out of the loop.  They have come to depend on me to take a call, help them handle a situation, answer a question, take up a last minute dinner invitation, etc. at all hours and with a smile on my face.

When I find myself bored, I flip the switch and quickly turn boredom into an opportunity to engage in some serious all about me time.  I often turn my phone on silent and disengage from my ever present social media squawk.  There are boring Sundays in which I never leave the comfort of my pjs until the alarm goes off on Monday morning.  I will spend the day lounging on around doing the things I want to do, like read a book.  I could even indulge in foods I often avoid in my diet, like chips and ice cream.  I might even take a long mid-afternoon nap.  I will let dishes pile up in the sink.  I avoid anything that might be considered a task or chore.  It is my defiant act of being irresponsible to just let the mess pile up.  I just relish in indulging in the things I normally miss out on in my hectic life.  I embrace the opportunity to soak up some rest and relaxation without a hint of guilt.

I find" turning off life" a self-serving but healthy activity. If you think about it, most healthy activities are self-serving, whether it be working out, eating healthy, getting more sleep, etc. and we don't feel guilty for them.  So why should we feel so guilty about taking a day to "turn off”, when it is really a healthy and productive activity?

I think we should encourage our staff members in their Management and Sales Performance Training to take time to turn off.  The life of a salesperson and/or sales manager can hectic and we deserve some down time to recharge and be prepared to tackle tomorrow.   We should encourage our teammates to embrace their inner bum from time to time, as part of a healthy and fit lifestyle.....no guilt necessary!!!

I am able to be irresponsible and defiant to my normal way of being, because I understand tomorrow is a new day.  Tomorrow all the messes, to-do lists and the rest of the responsibilities of my adult life will still be waiting for me.  Tomorrow, I will tackle all the chores and expected activities.  Tomorrow, I will not be bored and will be right back in the swing of my busy life.  Today, I am going to rest, relax and recharge in total boredom.    If you want to win the race, you tend to choose a fresh horse!!!

Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved