When the day's work is done.

When we step out of our office at the end of each day's work, we should not talk about work at all if possible. Some people bring their work home and to their family and consider that this is part of the daily communication between the spouses. My wife is one of them and she will continue to talk about her office work when we are going home in the same car.  We work  in the same organization and we are in different divisions and this is the time, we catch up with the progress in our work or project. This is not unusual as many working couples also behave in the similar way. Unfortunately, this is very stressful and this takes time away from family matters or personal matters.  We should stop talking about office matters when the day's work is done.

In one of  Ajahn Brahm session , he gave the example of  a renovation of  his monastery in Australia. One day, a guest visited him in his monastery and the hall of the temple was only half renovated and when he was asked by the guest how is the renovation  of his monastery,  he replied that it was done. The guest was very surprise with the answer , how can it be done when it is only half finish ? What Ajahn mend is that the work for the day was done and finish.  This is a very good philosophy because we are able to differentiate between working and private time. This is part of the balance of life concept which is now the trend.

Unfortunately, with the hi-tech gadget's today, the Iphone, Ipad and the laptop, there is no differentiation whether you are in the office or at home. We have to look at our incoming mails on the Iphone even when we are in the toilet doing our private business and at time, we have to spend time looking at our in-mails for urgent message which requires our response. We are working 7 x 24 if we are over committed to our jobs. Hence, we have to be discipline and organize our time.  We only answer very important mails and not to have the habit or urge to answer all incoming request as if we are working. It is good to have a clear cut policy to determine that the day's is done and not to reply every request or messages on the spot and the objective of these gadgets is to encourage immediate response. We hope our bosses will share our aspirations and need of private moments.

To be effective as a person or as a worker, there should be enough rest and time for personal matters which otherwise, will cause alot of social ills , unhappiness and family break ups. Working continuously is also a stressor which caused illness and mental depressions. So, for the good of us and our family, we should be firm in our wisdom and understanding that we need to keep work out of our family life before it is too late.

If we have a healthy mind and a strong body, we will be able to focus in our job and be aware of our condition and surroundings. If we are a better person, we will have a happy family and a better world.

Om Shanti.