This is a guest posting by Lise of Frugal in the Fruitlands. Her blog is a fantastic resource for plumping your wallet through inventive saving techniques. (subscribe to her feed here)

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s book Finding Flow suggests that we are happiest as humans when we pursue tasks that are challenging, but not so challenging that they discourage progress. This is a challenge when you consider that human beings also crave routine. Nothing is wrong with habit - but it can discourage the kind of supportive challenge that leads to flow experiences. In other words, if mental stimulation is lacking in your work or home life, it will be more difficult to bring new ideas to the table.

Nowhere is our craving for habit more apparent than in the morning, when we arrive–sometimes zombie-like!–to work, slurp down some caffeine, and try to make sense of our email and to-do list. Many people use caffeine to make the transition from slumped proto-human to functional worker, but here are some non-addictive ways to jumpstart your mental day:

Start your day with a puzzle. I freely admit stealing this from Trent of The Simple Dollar. Delve into your local paper; do the New York Times crossword puzzle, or check a puzzle book out of your local library. You don’t even need to opt for a dead-tree variety, either: pull up WebSudoku and pick a sufficiently challenging puzzle.

Work on your vocabulary. I recently spent several months studying for the GRE, including a solid vocabulary workout. If you wonder how knowing that taiga is an arctic forest will make you happier and more productive, consider this: English is a language that “runs down other languages in dark alleys and goes through their pocket for spare words,” and so the process of learning new words will teach you how to take words apart, attribute them to their source language, and learn a little bit about other cultures. You can pull out your old standardized test review books for this, or you can visit FreeRice.com, where you can “learn free vocabulary and give free rice.” Eradicating world hunger AND learning new words? That’s the kind of multi-tasking I like!

If you’re more of a contemplative, start your day with Poetry Daily. I enjoy reading the poem slowly, picking out phrases that catch my eye, and considering the meaning. If your only exposure to poetry has been high school English classes, then this resource will definitely broaden your horizons.

Learn a language while you commute. Audible.com has a good selection of language courses to purchase in audiobook format, but I wouldn’t be fit to run Frugal in the Fruitlands if I didn’t suggest that you try your local library or look for free language podcasts first. Natalia Worthington’s Spoonful of Russian is one that I enjoy, and is available free in the iTunes store.

Doodle. I wonder sometimes if my employers are offended by my doodling in meetings. I wish I could explain how it works for me - if all I have to do is listen (and not take notes), it’s actually really good for keeping me on target so that my mind doesn’t wander. It also seems to keep new ideas churning to the surface - something about doing something with my hands triggers a learning response. Maybe it’s a throwback to taking notes in high school and college.

When I was in college, I would start my day with Crazy Taxi on the Dreamcast. There’s something about playing a fast-paced, highly reflex-based video/computer game to get the blood pumping in the morning. I don’t have a Wii, but I understand that that’s exactly what it’s good for. Hint: Don’t do this one at the office, unless maybe you work for Nintendo.

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Warning: this post may contain writing hazardous to lazy attitudes! Why is that a much too large percentage of the workforce is scared to take a white-knuckled kung-fu grip on the reigns of their career? This, an often thought question in my mind, has bobbed along on the meniscus of my consciousness for years.

Now, everyone incurs times of need in which the help of others is necessary. Just today, for instance, an associate and I had to put our heads together for several hours in order to complete a rather difficult coding task. This is a healthy, natural, productive way to pool resources. Sitting around day after day, barely making an effort to advance an employer’s mission is not.

“Good lordy this guy is as tough as nails today… what gives?”

Please understand that I, known to you as “ModWork’r”, understand that my opinion and perspective on life and the workplace may not align with varied opinions and perspectives of other professionals and quasi-professionals, but hey, thus is the cornucopia of life we all dig, right? Perhaps.

If in fact reasoning should be laid out (and it probably should) for my stance on the mediocre crowd that gums up the gears of business and public service, it shall be disclosed. Quite honestly, I’ve had the pleasure of working with many top-notch people who are steadfast in their fervent dedication to whatever challenge is introduced before them. For this, I am thankful and appreciative. I would, however be lying if I said I have not had to supervise and motivate some wet shoelaces.

What I’m striking at on the hot iron (aka “blog”) is, that the focus to bring about successful qualities and dedication lies within everyone. And by that, I truly mean everyone. I’ve seen the potential brimming at the seams of hes and shes gone by, and always hope that the sound advice and direction I served up will stick to them. If only a little bit, then to help them to consistently take that next step forward in being a respectable, productive member of the greatest economy on this planet.

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(This is a follow-up to “How to Make and Keep New Year’s Resolutions”)

Last week, I posted an article here at Modern Worker about making and keeping new year’s resolutions. Additionally, I included a list of 10 goals to help get that process of choosing a resolution(s) going.

Being that this blog is lucky and grateful to have a growing readership of thoughtful folks, it was not to my surprise that Kare from MovingFromMetoWe.com added 6 more resolutions. Kudos to her for submitting these inspirational points!

11. Get specific sooner
12. Do first things first
13. Have rewards
14. Take a daily constitutional with someone you love.
15. Give thanks at least five times a day.
16. Collaborate with someone who shares one of your most deeply held values yet who is other wise much different than you

- Kare

I encourage everyone to hop into the conversations here and become part of Modern Worker beyond subscribing

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1 - Educational challenges - What was once massaged your brain into stimulation can become a nuisance after repeated experiences. This is actually one of the leading causes in folks switching jobs/careers. Keep a fresh supply of mental chewing gum by digging into War and Peace, attempting a new language or revisiting high school mathematics.

How this worked for me - Recently, I’ve been trying my gift of gab in the form of Vietnamese. Meeting new people and connecting via this beautiful language has been rewarding beyond description.

2 - Re-arrange your schedule - Obviously, this can be filed under the “easier said than done” category. Trust me on this one though, and take it one step at a time before going as far as to ask for the night shift, hehe. For instance, instead of working out at the gym on M/W/F, give T/Th/Su a go. In this case, by going from one set of times to another, you’ll encounter new people which can lead to increased networking.

How this worked for me - I had honed a 200 average at the bowling alley every Thursday night for months. Now my Lebowski-ness occurs on Tuesdays and my group of pin pals has increased for the better. Oddly enough, the oil conditions are better and my average has risen.

3 - Take the scenic route - Literally, this would mean an alternative route home, and although that qualifies as a refreshing stimulant, I’m talking on a grander scale. Make it a goal to take at least one trip per month to a new town, city, or state on your days off. You can go the way of the lone ranger and cruise solo, but sharing with friends/family enriches the experience.

How this worked for me - Days out and about on the weekends has doubled as a chance to focus on my photography hobby. Bonus!

4 - Plan a get-together with friends - Often times professionals will focus on their career and leave behind the communication with friends and family. Make it a point to grab dinner or have a house party with close friends and/or relatives on fairly frequent basis.

How this worked for me - Some of the best I friends I have were made from specifically seeking time to have fun while not at work. True story.

5 - Keep a 7-day diary - Writing has been proven time and time again to be thoroughly therapeutic. Thoughts can build up like a messy desk in the subconscious of our minds and eventually lead to a wild stress-induced mood swing. Sounds familiar? Yeah, I’ve been there too. Write about anything or everything to clear off that mental deskspace at least once a week. Without mental health and clarity, your happiness is genuinely impaired.

How this worked for me - Writing has provided me an outlet for pent-up feelings and thoughts that would have gone unattended. By casually recognizing what’s on my mind, I’ve been able to do a ton of self-improvement over the past several years. Writing… Modern-Worker approved!

Now, I’m fully aware these adjustments to life aren’t exactly easy or convenient to make, but I promise you’ll be glad you mixed things up. New environments, people and activities will induce a positive, confident spirit!

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(This post is part of an ongoing “Give Yourself a Break” series)

There was a point several years back that I was, well… maxed out. By that, I mean appointments for school/work/fun back-to-back and day-in-day-out. There’s only so long that a person can go without relaxation. I soon realized this and knew that simplifying my schedule and commitments would not only allow me peace of mind, but make me a better friend to pals and family. Here I stand on the other, sunnier side of the street, and there are a variety of things which keep me here. One of them is, television.

I’ve never been much of a movie or TV watcher, but I do thoroughly enjoy a few hours in front of the boob tube when something of high quality is playing (a rarity, I know). I was already exercising at the gym, which was (and still is) an effective sanctuary where I could decompress. I did, however, need space and time to put my mind at near-total ease. Television was the cure folks, yes television.

I made it a point to flop down on the couch (space) in front of the tv whenever I had been running at full steam during the day (time). Let me tell you, it did wonders for my mental clarity. Coupled with the exercise I had already been active with on a regular basis, I reduced my blood pressure and laughed a lot more.

I should say, that I’ve always been an avid artist and reader/researcher, so tv was added in to that mix. By no means did I replace any enriching activities with tv, but rather they compliment each other. Harmony my friends, that’s what it’s about when it comes to balancing work life with personal life. Be good to yourself, no matter what.

Which relaxing, recreational things do you partake in to wind down from an intense day?

photo credit: Flickr user pictobox

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