Lives of Museum Junkies by Marilynne Eichinger

Author:Marilynne Eichinger
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-10-22T17:29:58+00:00

Achieving Balance: Lessons for Parents and Leaders

People are happiest when leading a well-balanced life. Participating in physical activities, taking vacations, quieting the brain, and chilling out with friends are important ways to relax. Daily exercise is not meant to be an exhibit in a science center, though they devote quite a lot of floor space to it. I’ve always participated in an exercise regime. Passing bulging bodies on the street is all the motivation I need to stay active.

After reading how some businesses in Asia integrate exercise into their workday, I launched an experiment at Impression 5 and asked visitors to join staff for fifteen minutes of stretching and movement. Our loud speaker announced the break, suggesting people to stop what they were doing, go to an open area, and follow the leader’s directions. Lively music played to entice people to give it a try. We conducted the exercises at 2:30 in the afternoon, a time when fatigue sets in for most people. It was heartening to watch adults and children bending and swaying throughout the exhibit floors.

I loved participating and noticed our staff had more energy after the interval. Two-thirds of the visitors joined in enthusiastically but others didn’t want their attention diverted from what they were doing. I viewed the breaks as a practical application of the healthy lifestyle the center stood for.

Nike is especially good at integrating exercise and work opportunities on their campus. It has several gymnasiums and staff are encouraged to exercise when they feel the need for a break. A flexible schedule decreases work fatigue, promotes teamwork, and creates alert employees who are better focused. Mixing staff with people from different parts of the campus increases cross-departmental communication. Nike is a place where work blends into play. By providing social and physical opportunities management finds employees stay loyal to firm and work long hours.

Getting away from daily stress by taking breaks was important for maintaining my peace of mind. Not only did I appreciate the scenery during vacations, but staff enjoyed having me gone. When I left I knew the institution was in good hands and trusted that decisions made in my absence would be similar to mine. Cell phones and computers make it easy to stay connected, but in the 1970s and ’80s that was not the case. Technology has created a different set of problems that make it difficult to get away from work and fully relax.

Most of my vacations were spent with children—but not all. My husband and I would hire a babysitter occasionally and take off to explore distant parts of the world. The trips stimulated our minds and renewed our commitment to each other. When we were fist married and couldn’t afford help, I organized a sitting exchange with neighbor. In my mind, getting away is as important as maintaining a nutritious diet and watching your weight.

One weekend all my husband and I did was get in the car and drive two exits east on the highway. We went to a hotel near the exitn, had a relaxing dinner, a soak in a hot tub, and enjoyed a movie.

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