Colleagues, Family and Friends – Supporters at the Cricket Rematch (Photo by Dorri)
The Trini bowler throws the pitch. It looks promising. The line towards the wicket is clean. The crowd is on their toes. The Barbadian batsman (Julian) gracefully swings the bat and …. FOUR shouts the Umpire. The crowd groans. It seems despite all efforts, the Trinis cannot bowl, run, catch or stump out this batsman who remains standing tall at the wicket. This was the scene of the 2013 IDB Trinidad and Tobago Country Office (CTT) annual picnic. A blow to the Trini pride which fueled many heated conversations (in jest only of course) and lots of picong over the last two years which, on April 2nd 2015, culminated into a Cricket Rematch of epic proportions.
For those who could not tell, CTT closed its doors a little early on April 2nd to allow staff to carry their chairs, snacks and beverages to the pre-designated Cricket Rematch pitch in the Queen’s Park Savannah. However, perhaps this was more than a just a rematch but an intentional activity to set aside some time for the refueling and replenishment of CTT’s mental resources. Joe Robinson in his article The Refueling Principle states that “productivity isn’t about how many brute hours you rack up – it’s about how effective you are at replenishing mental resources. And the key to that is …. taking time off”.
When you are constantly working, not allowing yourself periodic breaks throughout the day, you are draining your pool of cognitive resources – the result of which is a decline in your productivity and creativity. It may be prudent to ask yourself the following questions:
- Am I a regular offender of eating lunch at my desk while continuing to work?
- Do I disconnect from being electronically attached to the office over the weekend?
- When did I take a vacation and totally unplug from the office?
Not allowing yourself the time to replenish can lead to burnout, poor performance and stress, making it difficult to focus, plan and make good decisions. Regular refueling is a requirement for quality output. We all need breathers and should take them. Maintaining our good health, physically and mentally, depends on it. Consistently achieving excellence depends on it. Being more effective and successful in all aspects of our life depends on it.
Trini Batsman, Ian, Man of the Match, April 2015 (Photo by Dorri)
So what was the result of the Cricket Rematch during CTT’s mental replenishment break? The Trinis were triumphant and are holding the Man of the Match Title – at least for now.
Picong – word in the Trini dialect meaning “the exchange of teasing, generally in a light-hearted, bantering manner”.
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I’m guilty of not taking enough mental breaks throughout the day. Time for a change perhaps.
Well, well, Ms Workaholic writes extremely well on the subject of taking breaks & disconnecting from electronic gizmos, dare one ask if she too takes her own advice?
Dear Dorri:
Excellent blog! Just so you know: I have forwarded the blog to CPL to let them know of my availability to play with Red Steel (the winning team). I was already contacted by Tridents but I politely refused. I didn’t have the heart to tell Tridents that “real” cricketers play with Red Steel!
excellent article…. hope you’re taking your own advice 🙂
Dorri…so true about replenishing. Am a little confused about ‘the Trini bowler throws the pitch’! That’s not Trini talk is it? 🙂
Good blog
Wow, man of the match too? Well done and Well written.
Hmmmm….interesting concept. Good writing D.
Breaks from the mundane are very important. We need them to keep perspective on our place in the world as a reminder to not take life so seriously. Because after all we are just specks of dust compared to the majesty and unfathomable grandeur of the Universe.