One day about a month ago, I was feeling under the weather and spent a whole day doing something crazy: nothing at all! The most productive thing I did all day was a few loads of laundry. This felt completely radical and I realized just how rarely I actually take a whole day off. Between my day job and Stacybeads, I pretty much work every day.
Now, let's be clear: some days my work involves spreading some bead catalogs out on the floor and shopping for supplies while I stream 30 Rock on Netflix in my pajamas. We're not talking about spending eight hours a day in a factory plucking chickens or something. As I've said before, I feel very lucky that I'm able to earn a living by doing things that I think are fun.
When work feels like play, it's hard to stop working. Is that so bad? Some people would say that if you're having that much fun, you're not really working. But should "work" by definition be unpleasant? I've certainly had my share of jobs I hated--you know, the kind that fill you with dread the moment you wake up, and make you spend the whole day counting down the minutes until you can leave. Those jobs sucked, but I did what I had to do because I needed the work. I was at a point in my life where many people find themselves right now--just grateful to have a job, any job. Having been there, I'm extra-appreciative of the fact that my current jobs are fun.
What do you think? What does "work" mean to you? Does the word itself imply something unpleasant and/or difficult? Should I make it a point to schedule myself more days off, or just revel in the fact that for me, there's a very fine line between work and play?