Work Rest Matrix
Jun/0918
A few weeks ago as I lay on my acupuncturist table attempting to ignore the sensation of the needles by pondering my life – I visualized the following chart.
Later that day I shared it on Twitter – the reaction was quite positive, so I thought I’d share it here with a few thoughts on how it came to be.
By no means do I consider myself to be a self help guru or expert in any of this – the chart comes more as I thought about when I find myself to be ‘at my best’ – physically, emotionally, relationally and spiritually.
As I lay on the table attempting not to squirm I came to the very non earth shattering realization* that I’m at my best when I have a good mix of activity and rest.
*Tangent: I call these realizations ‘goldfish moments’ based upon the myth that goldfish have a three second memory and that I seem to have these ‘ahaaaa!’ moments in a cyclical fashion every few months and then realize that I’ve ‘discovered’ them before time and time again.
Rest and Activity
What was different about this realization that I’d not pondered before is that there are different types of ‘rest’ and ‘activity’. Previously I’d been thinking about it purely on a physical level however the reality is that in my line of work I have extended periods of physical rest and mental activity (I sit at a desk for many hours each day writing, interacting with others, being creative, thinking strategically etc).
On the flip side of this is that when I exercise (something I need to do more of) I quite often let my mind go blank and find it to be a mentally restful experience.
Of course you can also be active both mentally and physically (strategic thinking when playing sport could be an example) and at rest both physically and mentally (something I experience often in times of meditation).
Balance
As I lay on the acupuncture table that day I realized that I’m at my best when I get a balance of all kinds of rest and activity. Conversely it is when I get out of balance (usually for me it’s about a lack of physical exercise or a lack of mental rest) that I find myself getting into some kind of trouble (usually for me it’s when I get sick).
The conclusion that I came to was that I need to be more intentional in thinking about these things. As I’ve mentioned above – I tend to live in top right hand corner of this matrix (Active Mind and Body at Rest). I do stray into the lower right area (Body and Mind) from time to time (mainly for sleep and occassionally for meditation) but I think I’d be a healthier with more balance.
I suspect we all have our natural areas of the matrix where we spend most of our time. I have a number of friends who I shared this with who reflected back that their main struggle is finding times to have rest their mind (even when they lay in bed they’re always thinking/worrying/planning etc).
I’m certain that this matrix is not perfect (for example I’m not sure we all have to live right in the center – it also ignores many other factors of healthy living such as diet) – consider this one of those half thought through ideas* that I have and feel free to add your own thoughts/reflections and experiences.
Note: I suspect this blog will have a lot of these half thought through thoughts. I love to think out loud and love that many of my thoughts and ideas are actually completed by those around me – that’s why I love blogging/social media so much, together we are a lot smarter.
A few questions to ponder.
- Which quadrant do you live in? Which do you need to do/explore more?
- What’s missing from the matrix? What other examples of activities would fit into the different areas?
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12:35 am on June 26th, 2009
Hey Darren! It’s a joy to know you up close and personal through this blog :D I think that since I’m self-employed and I plan my own timing, I’m actually pretty balanced throughout, except in the body at rest/mind at rest quadrant, where I sometimes slip the meditation routine here and there (that’s going to change when I go on a meditation retreat for 2 weeks from next wednesday onwards though). I think this matrix kind of encompasses body/mind/soul (even though it’s just two axes of body/mind) – one other component would be the heart too. Relationships, family, friends, people. That needs to fit in somewhere, but right now the definitions of the matrix doesn’t seem to give way for it.
1:29 am on June 26th, 2009
Great perspective of things, looking in this way.. and yes, a great life is made out of balance. and yes, you sure have some knowledge to share with us! keep it coming mate.. and congratulations for the new blog!
1:33 am on June 26th, 2009
Have you seen the work that David Seah is doing within his printable CEO series. His most recent is the Day Grid Balancer (although recent updates have changed that concept slightly) http://davidseah.com/pceo/dgb
4:41 am on June 26th, 2009
I tend to stray up into the right upper corner too. Or rather I’m there almost all the time. There is some repetitive things I do at the computer which makes it almost down into the right bottom corner.
But as you Darren, I believe a balance is good. Not only because it’s probably healthier for your body to exercise, but also for your mind to get out there and do other things.
Creativity, for example, usually dries out if you never have new material to ponder or maybe just a new experiance will jump start it.
Thank you for reminding me I really do need to start exercising. Or at least take a walk outside every day.
6:37 am on June 26th, 2009
I like your chart there (*grins* reminds me of a Mendelian Diagram). But I think it’s a very accurate portrayal. People tend to think of working at their desk as non-active and wonder why they are so tired at the end of the day. But mental gymnastics require energy. You have to balance the type of activity. If you spend all of your energy on mental tasks, you have nothing left for necessary physical activity to maintain health. Those of us with fatigue related illnesses are always fighting this battle. How do we get our work done and still have enough energy to get necessary physical activity. It’s a real quandary. We have to get physical exercise to pump up our energy levels enough to be able to work, and yet if we work full time, we’re too tired to get the exercise we need to be able to work.
As you say, balance is the issue, but finding that balance point can be difficult.
8:28 am on June 26th, 2009
:-) I think I’m going to love this blog – you have such a cheeky sense of humor. I often joke about having a brain like a goldfish – I justify it as saying I forget to remember it in the first place.
Anyway, a lot of this fits in with what I’ve learnt about having anxiety for the past couple of years. During that time, symptoms were so severe that everything was at rest. Mentally exercising gave me migraines and too much physical exertion made me dizzy, nauseous, and worse.
Now that i’m recovering, I’m focusing a lot of combining my periods of mental and physical activity with rest. Last week I’d spent ages working on my blogs and decided to spend Wednesday doing some massive hikes at the Dandenongs. I frequently take breaks with blog articles by dancing to lady gaga.
I’m probably fortunate in that I have the luxury of listening to my mind/body and immediately acting – but having anxiety as bad as i did has taught me so much about balance.
THere was something i wanted to ask you at tweetupmellers last week. When you have acupucture, do they put needles in your head? ;) I’m not sure my needle phobia could handle that.
xx Jade
12:31 pm on June 26th, 2009
Darren I’m impressed that you have the time and the inclination to share your thoughts through another blog!
Love the matrix … although I do disagree just a little. To me, the type of seated work required from any would-be blogger (and indeed most people) is definitely not ‘body at rest’. I’d have to call it ‘mind at work, body at war’! Ergonomic set-up and core/postural awareness aside, I definitely can’t say I’m physically rested after computer work.
As contrary as it might sound, my ‘mind at work, body at rest’ activity would have to be yoga … even though I guess it’s more of an active rest.
All these thoughts aside, my weak area is definitely mind at rest, especially when exercising. I don’t often manage to use exercise as mental recuperation; I seem to spend it constantly formulating lists and plans – and then becoming frustrated when I can’t remember all my great ideas afterwards!
4:02 pm on June 26th, 2009
Darren,
It’s amazing the way the mind clears up once those needles are in, isn’t it? :)
I’m glad you’re taking care of yourself.
Yael
10:22 pm on June 26th, 2009
Great post and great new blog. I’ll definitely be following you here.
I absolutely agree about the need for balance. I find it hardest to push myself in the “body active/mind active” quadrant. I’ve always thought of balance as a pendulum between mind/body, or active/inactive. I like the idea of a four-way quadrant. I needed to be reminded of the need to get active, and I appreciate the reminder that the “body rest/mind rest” doesn’t necessarily mean sleep. We could all do with a bit more meditative time.
10:40 pm on June 26th, 2009
Your chart has given me food for thought. I also tend to spend the majority of my time in the top right quadrant, but as Kat put it, I also don’t look at this as being body at rest. In fact, when I get up from my computer chair, the first thing I do is stretch my muscles. That’s relaxing.
I’m looking forward to reading updates to this blog. :)
12:28 am on June 27th, 2009
I’m happy so see you showing the real-life side of you. You business and blogging activities must leave you totally drained.
I pretty much live on the right side of your quadrant. I need to sleep (which isn’t always an easy thing to do) in order to have enougth energy to actively work on my blogs. I have Fibromyalgia and that doesn’t always allow me the luxury to do the things I’m passionate about.
I have two cooking/food related blogs. This entails research, testing, photography and writing. I’ve thought long and hard about making it into a profit enterprise but do not have the knowledge or sometimes the energy to explore the possibilities.
I agree that a balance in activity is natures’ way of keeping a person in check with their health, both physically and mentally. But some of us can’t afford the time to devote to each faction properly. So, we do what we can.
I admire your dedication to your work, your passions and of course to real life.
9:25 am on June 28th, 2009
We really need a balanced life. Sometimes we work too hard and get too tired. Sometimes we relax too much and lost a lot. The only way to solve this problem is by having a balanced life.
The matrix that you visualized gave me sense. Thanks =)
10:26 am on June 29th, 2009
Hi Darren,
Great place you have hear :) I’m looking forward to reading more of your stuff.
I tend to agree with your matrix but think that overall we go through different periods of ‘flow’ no matter what state your physical body is in. Mind and Body (I think) do tend to play in harmony (or not) with each other. Ie – sitting down all day at the desk can actually be quite frustrating for the mind, just as sport can be quite liberating for the strategic side of your brain.
To me, it is all about flow and staying in the zone to get what you need to get done before resting, both body and mind. Reaching this flow state is quite dependant on a number of things, but three main ones seem to be:
1) Fear
2) Impatience
3) Ambition
This makes a lot of sense to me. Getting into flow is a trade off between Anxiety and Boredom (you don’t want to get too fearful, but also not too bored) and the three things above talk to that. It’s very hard to do your best work if you are impatient with it, or feel that you should be ‘that much better’ because of your ambition to achieve something. Being scarred of the outcomes that might take place is also a sure fire way to hinder your own activities and induce alot of stress.
Such an interesting topic. Thanks for the post!
9:54 am on August 29th, 2009
Hi Darren,
To answer the question you asked about your matrix, I have lived with far too much emphasis in one quandrant or the other my entire life. I am always tweaking in an attempt to find the middle. After 42 years, I think I’m getting closer, though not quite there.
Thanks for the insight. It may help ward off my midlife crisis.
Debbie Ferm
12:27 am on September 4th, 2009
This chart is great! You should start a self-improvement blog. They’re all the rage now. :p
I don’t exercise much but I use my mind a lot. Every couple days I’ll stop and play a computer game for an hour. That still requires thought, but it is more restorative than meditation for me. I’ve been doing this for two months.
For physical exertion, I’ve been walking around the neighborhood in the mornings and painting my new office Dad is building. I sleep better when I walk a lot. I’m back in college now and I just walk around meeting people, giving out prints of my photos, and taking pictures of things. It’s interesting and fulfills all four quadrants in your chart.
When I’ve been reading and commenting on blogs or writing an article for a couple of hours, I’ll stop to play a song on the piano. I don’t try to learn new songs in this time. I play an old song I’ve memorized. It requires no thought to play, but it helps my fingers because it’s better than typing.
1:56 am on September 8th, 2009
Balance is so important. I recently wrote a post about my efforts to achieve balance as an entrepreneur (http://lisamorosky.com/2009/08/the-secret-to-entrepreneurial-success/). When I’m actively focused on taking care of my physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health, I’m more successful and focused.
11:38 pm on September 14th, 2009
Thanks so much for sharing this, Darren. It really is so important. I posted about your matrix today, and how it applies in the parenting/at home world:
http://simplemom.net/finding-the-balance-of-mind-and-body-at-home/
I’m always shocked at how much more productive and pleasant I am when I have enough sleep. It’s the little things that matter so often.
4:54 am on June 5th, 2010
This chart is great! You should start a self-improvement blog. They’re all the rage now. :p
I don’t exercise much but I use my mind a lot. Every couple days I’ll stop and play a computer game for an hour. That still requires thought, but it is more restorative than meditation for me. I’ve been doing this for two months.
For physical exertion, I’ve been walking around the neighborhood in the mornings and painting my new office Dad is building. I sleep better when I walk a lot. I’m back in college now and I just walk around meeting people, giving out prints of my photos, and taking pictures of things. It’s interesting and fulfills all four quadrants in your chart.
When I’ve been reading and commenting on blogs or writing an article for a couple of hours, I’ll stop to play a song on the piano. I don’t try to learn new songs in this time. I play an old song I’ve memorized. It requires no thought to play, but it helps my fingers because it’s better than typing.