Work and fun….

Does work and fun need to be different or separate entity?

People talk about ‘letting hair down’ after work; ‘de-stressing at a watering hole’; go to the gym, dance class, movies etc. like they are being let out of a prison of sorts.

A colleague, when I was working New York two decades ago, would be out the door exactly at 5 pm everyday. It was a very important routine for her. Work from 9 to 5 pm to earn money to pay bills. Nothing more to it than that – nothing to do with passion, or meaning / purpose….

After 5 pm, however, life begun for her. She was into latin dance particularly Tango. That was her passion. So, she maintained a lifestyle with two distinct components. Work and life or work and passion were two different pursuits.

Joy or recreation and professional work are seen as diametrically opposed to each other. Must they be separate? Is it not possible to have work and fun / passion at the same time? I have found that because I enjoy what i do so much, I do not see myself suffering and needing to find joy elsewhere. I am refreshed when I work, I ideate when I rest.

Because I have fun while working and the passion of life and work is weaved as one, I can go for my long ‘break’ once in 2 years. Of course, I do need daily breaks as in eye break, brain break, etc.