Take time to think, rest and play

What is your favourite animal? Mine is a dog.

I just love their loyalty and their unconditional love. There is something so special about the bond with a dog. That trust; the commitment; the care; the love; the fun. It’s a very hard pain to bear though, when they are no longer with you.

But I do often think about how great ‘a dog’s life’ really is. A dog knows how to rest (very well at times), how to enjoy their playtime, doing the right things to receive their dog rewards (dog treats) and not to overwork. They just seem to get the balance right. I often wonder if I got it the wrong way round as a human being when I spent time with my dog. Should I be taking a leaf out of their book?

But no matter what, I would always take my dog for a walk and try to use that as a time to reflect and relax and enjoy my surroundings. That moment would then end as I engaged with the realities and demands of the working day.

I didn’t look at my phone on these walks (other than five minutes before getting home to see if there were any requests from my wife). I just looked at my dog and spent time investing in that bond. I said hello to strangers, other familiar dog walkers and sometimes met some new likeminded people.

I didn’t focus on my to do list. I focused on what was in front of me, being in my own thoughts, in my own world. I typically came back from each walk feeling more refreshed and more relaxed (some of you might ask whether that’s really possible KO).

Those walks with my dog were all about finding the balance. While the slogan from a well known chocolate bar may well be “Work, Rest and Play”, the important thing is to spend sufficient time in each area….and to throw in some thinking time too. Are you getting this balance right?