Cale Clarke recently returned from holiday, and he had some important things to say about the value of taking a rest, indulging in healthy leisure, and detaching from work for a time.
As he shared on The Cale Clarke Show, Cale and his wife paid a visit to Cale’s hometown, Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. They were able to see his old house and wander the areas where Cale and several great hockey players grew up. He even got to take his friend’s brand-new Tesla for a spin.
While the specifics of vacations might seem insignificant to anybody who wasn’t able to be present for the trip, the value of getting away from it all cannot be understated. Scott Hahn, the famous apologist and theologian who has covered many topics in his books, once included a subtitle for one of his books that read Resisting a Rest. It talked about observing the Lord’s day and making sure that we honor that commandment.
Cale said that during his first year with Relevant Radio, he was so invested in his work that he didn’t take a single day off. Eventually, the executives encouraged him to take his vacation time and he fit it in at the end of the year. While Cale initially avoided vacation because he was enjoying his work so much, many Americans avoid taking vacation because they feel the pressure of their company and their supervisors to excel. Otherwise, they might not be as successful as they need or want to be. While the United States is and should be proud of its strong work culture, you cannot let work unbalance the rest of your life.
“Sometimes we need to be forced into a break,” said Cale. “And that’s a good thing for you, for me, for everybody. God knows how He made us. He knows what we need. He knows what will aid in our human flourishing.”
Working is good. Working hard is even better. Working to the point where you burn out, become fatigued, or take out your exhaustion and frustration on others is damaging. It’s damaging to your health, to your relationships, and the work that you’re doing.
To make sure that you’re maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you need to get a sufficient amount of sleep. You also need to eat enough to give your brain the power to function efficiently. Many people in the workforce simply skip breakfast or lunch because they don’t realize the benefits that they’re withholding from their bodies. Thirdly, you need to know when to arrive at work and when to leave work. Spending too much time at the office can quickly become a bad habit if we let it, and then our families, bodies, and minds suffer.
And minds need a rest as much as the body. We cannot give our bodies rest while continuing to burden our minds with work-related issues, anxiety, and worry. One of the best ways to benefit our minds, bodies, and souls is through prayer. As St. Francis de Sales once said, “Half an hour’s meditation each day is essential, except when you are busy. Then a full hour is needed.” It is foolish to believe that any of our problems will go away, whether we’re actively working on them or not, without the help of God.
When you take time off and are able to enjoy leisure, remember that it is a three-front endeavor. As much as you push yourself to excel in your career, make sure to find time for mental, physical, and spiritual peace in God’s arms.
Tune in to The Cale Clarke Show weekdays at 5pm CT
