Make time for yourself and family
We put our relationships and health at risk when we continually work long hours, writes
wait 50 years before Labour Day was officially celebrated for the first time. In 1900 it became a public holiday, and in 1910 the holiday was ‘‘Mondayised’’, giving us the Labour Day long weekend we all know and love.
Back then, the eight-hour day movement advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation and eight hours for rest, an ideal we still hang our hats on.
But it’s easier said than done to stick to the perfect 8-8-8.
Despite Labour Day being an annual celebration, the eight-hour day is not a law here in New Zealand, and many of us continue to work long hours.
The more we work, the less time we have to spend with our families and friends, exercise, explore the outdoors, take holidays, blob in front of the telly, sleep – all activities that are essential for our wellbeing.
The longer we spend at the office, the more likely we are to get sick and burn out. We might earn more money, but we lose the positive effects of relationship and rest too.
So what can you do this Labour Day to make Parnell’s contribution to society worth it? Unplug your laptop, switch off your phone, and put yourself first.
Whether it’s heading out of town for a mini-break, taking a hike through your favourite forest, heading to the beach or binge-watching Grey’s Anatomy, however you choose to relax is totally up to you.
Spend time with the people you love, especially if you do work long hours, or take the opportunity to meet people on your street by inviting them over for a Monday evening barbecue via Neighbourly. Because there’s more to life than work, and there’s more to work than countless hours slaving away at a desk.