I can only speak as an American, but work is who we are, right? We believe that our achievements and productivity not only define us but also pave the way for success and happiness. We live in an achievement society and, as a result, we suffer from an internalized pressure to achieve – to do more, to be more, to have more.

Did you know that productivity has increased at 3.5 times the rates of compensation for American workers since the 1970’s? So we are working harder, producing more, yet getting paid less. I share this statistic because, not surprisingly, burnout has also increased exponentially over the same time period. Do you feel as though you are constantly asking yourself, “How is what I’m doing right now impacting my most productive self?” This driven mindset infiltrates even our personal life, turning every choice and action into a strategic move in the game of self-improvement and advancement. And social media doesn’t help.

So what is the answer? The answer is PLAY! Remember when we were kids and we played without trying to improve? We just played until our parents called us in for dinner. There was no metric for our play. We didn’t post our game of Ghost in the Graveyard on social media, nor did we play it for achievement’s sake. My advice: GO PLAY! Find ways to play that bring you sheer joy. Find a way to make work playful AND joyful. We are way to serious and this achievement mentality has an ugly side if we aren’t careful. GO PLAY!

Let’s GO! WE GOT THIS!

Beth