The Blender (Outpost)
The Blender
Twelve Pax, took the Daily Red Pill (DRP) this morning and got better.
The Pax: Colt, T-Bone, Meatsweats, Beano, Josey, Poacher, Xbox, Playstation, Rifleman, Iceman and Chitwood (Q: Squirrel)
The Scene: An amazing morning to be out in the Gloom!
Warm-o-Rama: Imperial Walkers, Abe Vigoda’s, Cotton pickers
The Thang:
Mucho Chesto
- 45 seconds Side straddle hops
- 15 seconds Rest
- 45 seconds Walk hands down Merkins and perform a Superman
- 15 seconds Rest
- Repeato
- 45 seconds Knee lift / Arm Raise (at a jog to amp it up)
- 15 seconds Rest
- 45 seconds Other Knee lift / Arm Raise
- 15 seconds Rest
- 45 seconds Lunge with twist
- 15 seconds Rest
- Repeato
- 45 seconds Two side straddle hops & two speed skaters
- 15 seconds Rest
- 45 seconds Merkins
- 15 seconds Rest
- Repeato
- 45 seconds Side straddle hops
- 15 seconds Rest
- 45 seconds Squats
- 15 seconds Rest
- Repeato
- 45 seconds Mountain Climbers
- 15 seconds Rest
- 45 seconds Hand release Merkins
- 15 seconds Rest
- Repeato
Mucho Chesto
Belly Aiken Abs
- The 100
- 10 Xs & Os
- 20 WWII Situps
- 30 Side leg raises (ea side) In cadence
- 40 Long slow flutter
- 30 LBCs In Cadence
- 20 Heels To Heaven In cadence
- 10 Hello Dolly followed by 10 Rosalita’s
- 60 sec Plank
Mosey to the wall and perform LBD’s and Mini Chest
Announcements/Prayer requests:
- Prayers surrounding Playstation and his 2.0. There are very few things that cut deeper than hearing hurtful things come out of your own 2.0’s mouth — the person you’ve poured so much into, done so much for, and loved more than you thought possible. Let us celebrate Playstation for reaching out and seeking counsel from the Pax.
- For Xbox’s M (Kate) and mom and their upcoming surgeries
- Praises for Poachers 2.0 (Ben) and the big steps he is taking. Submitting a $10k grant and receiving it….well done!
- Rifleman let everyone know that Rainbow Baptist is holding a Easter Morning Sunrise service (0700) with breakfast to follow. Sasquatch will be giving the message that day!
Beano lead us out in prayer
MOLESKINE: The Blender…
The phrase “work-life balance” proliferates the American vernacular. And why wouldn’t it? Work stress is on the rise, people have quit at extraordinarily high rates and everyone is trying to figure out how to live a full life even in and among the demands of a career. No one can create the mystical work-life balance that proliferates the web. Life is not inert and only inert things can be balanced through the use of a scale, or teeter-totter.
x 
Here’s a mental image for you about work-life balance, aka the teeter-totter. You have the job on one end, your family/hobby/etc. on the other. In between these things is a toddler (i.e. life) running. There’s no way anyone can balance that. There is so much of life that is outside of your control.
Blending, rather than balancing on the teeter-totter, hobbies into your schedule can provide a respite and even spawn creativity. Before you scoff and stop reading please know blending does not look like coming to work at 8am, leaving by 10 for a tee time, back at 1pm for a meeting, then off to…. No. The blending is bringing your passion (hobby) to work. How can a leader possibly blend work and hobby, or work and a personal life?
Prioritize Time Management – blending work and hobbies as a leader is effective time management. Create a detailed schedule outlining your work-related responsibilities, meetings, and deadlines. Then, lock in time slots for your hobbies. These “hobbies” are just as important as work. If you subjugate them you will find yourself back in the same place you wanted to escape.
Delegate and Empower Your Team – Empower your team to make decisions. Knowing and using their strengths, you are able to move towards the common goal, and not mandate a singular path. This delegation and empowerment allows them to mature into better employees, more well-rounded people, and gives them a seat at the table. Who doesn’t want that?
Set Boundaries – Define specific work hours for yourself, and make sure that you’re sticking to them! Reality check, who hasn’t checked work emails or taken business calls during your time away from the office? I’ll raise my hand to that one. If you are not ruthless about this you are signaling to yourself and your team that your personal life is not as important as work.
The second half of this step is critical. Communicate these boundaries with your colleagues and employees so they understand when you are available for work and when you are not.
Learn to Say No – This is almost part three of setting boundaries. As a leader, you are more than likely inundated with requests. Yes, you must be accessible and responsive to your team and stakeholders, AND it is equally important to recognize your limitations. Decline, with grace, requests that may lead to over-commitment.
Create a system of support with people who share a similar story – seek support and wise counsel from others who share your interests and similar struggles.
Blending work and hobbies doesn’t have to feel like life in a blender. Yes, it will be challenging and yet it is achievable.
How much better would life be if you stopped running from one end of the teeter-totter to the other and instead blended it all together?
Aye!