Really interesting. And I think this 'resting' becomes particularly poignant upon early retirement. Suddenly your identity and sense of worth in society stops being measured by your job title or the hours you spend managing complex negotiating or skilful customer relations. Overnight a change comes about and it takes a while to realise your place in society is still very valid. Finding a new path where productivity shifts into a different realm, and resting doesn't feel so wrong takes time to adjust to 😊
Even though the Protestant Work Ethic originated in Northern Europe, that's the place now where you will find the biggest proponents of a good work life balance. Probably generally in Europe, an obsession with being productive is not considered healthy and we have fixed working hours, holiday entitlements and rest is the right thing to do.
You treat time like a landlord and pay your rent with adrenaline. But the ancestors do not care about the inbox you worship.
Do not let the clock colonize your heartbeat. Your worth is not a currency to be earned in the fever. It is the breath you take when you finally refuse to run.
Thank you for your insights and questions on this topic - it plagues me too! As I get older I am getting better at rest. But the steady drumbeat of "what am I accomplishing right now" is always there.
As an archeologist I really appreciated the historical view of the shame and moral passed through time as society grow more fractioned and having more is equal having worth. Lately I've been thinking about exactly this. Why we measure our worth with what we achieve and the quality of it. Doing great equals being a great person. I've observed it as parental and society wrongdoings, an unhealthy ontology, but haven't actually been thinking about it as a moral grown out of time and change in behavior. Thank you for giving me food for thought.
Really interesting. And I think this 'resting' becomes particularly poignant upon early retirement. Suddenly your identity and sense of worth in society stops being measured by your job title or the hours you spend managing complex negotiating or skilful customer relations. Overnight a change comes about and it takes a while to realise your place in society is still very valid. Finding a new path where productivity shifts into a different realm, and resting doesn't feel so wrong takes time to adjust to 😊
I saw the title of this article and shouted “capitalism” 😂
Haha it’s true!
Even though the Protestant Work Ethic originated in Northern Europe, that's the place now where you will find the biggest proponents of a good work life balance. Probably generally in Europe, an obsession with being productive is not considered healthy and we have fixed working hours, holiday entitlements and rest is the right thing to do.
You treat time like a landlord and pay your rent with adrenaline. But the ancestors do not care about the inbox you worship.
Do not let the clock colonize your heartbeat. Your worth is not a currency to be earned in the fever. It is the breath you take when you finally refuse to run.
Thank you for your insights and questions on this topic - it plagues me too! As I get older I am getting better at rest. But the steady drumbeat of "what am I accomplishing right now" is always there.
As an archeologist I really appreciated the historical view of the shame and moral passed through time as society grow more fractioned and having more is equal having worth. Lately I've been thinking about exactly this. Why we measure our worth with what we achieve and the quality of it. Doing great equals being a great person. I've observed it as parental and society wrongdoings, an unhealthy ontology, but haven't actually been thinking about it as a moral grown out of time and change in behavior. Thank you for giving me food for thought.
That’s such a thoughtful lens to apply! Would love to hear your learning as an archeologist as well :)
Thanks for featuring this @hasif 💌! :)