This Labour Day, remember to work in moderation

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31: Most of my friends and a lot of my family, as well as myself, are constantly referring to how much we have to do in a 24-hour period.

We often complain that there are not enough hours in the day and how we need more time to do what we have to do.

Especially here in Bermuda, where we work often more than one job to keep afloat with the basics like rent, electricity, clothing and food.

So oft times after working two jobs or a demanding job that requires more than an eight hour day, we are faced with the personal things that we must do.

Malfunction

We therefore plod on trying to be superhuman and do all the things we feel have to be done.

We do this at the expense of putting our health in jeopardy.

We want more hours in the day so that we can do what we feel we have to do.

I often feel that we don’t have to do half of the things we feel we must do.

We deprive our bodies of the sleep and rest that is needed to serve us well.

We even deprive our bodies of healthy foods because we really don’t have the time to prepare nutritiously-balanced meals.

I wonder though, could this jam-packed lifestyle be causing our renowned and friendly Bermudian personality to dissipate?

When I am overworked, tired and in malnutrition, I am usually very irritable and grumpy.

I guess it is only natural, for when anything — be it human or otherwise — is overworked and not adequately fed or fuelled, this can only lead to malfunction.

Research has shown that driving whilst tired or sleepy is worse than driving whilst drunk.

How is that... well, when one is tired or sleepy the body in its attempt to survive, shuts down involuntarily.

That’s right, the body has rights over you and when you don’t obey the signs that it needs rest or it is ill, it automatically shuts down.

Yes, the body has a perfect system of safe-guarding itself. Whether we listen or not, it will do what is has to do until you listen and take heed to treat it better. Ironically, it’s all for your good.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)  once asked a companion: “(Is it true) that you fast all day and stand in prayer all night?”

The companion replied that the report was indeed true. The Prophet then said: “Do not do that! Observe the fast sometimes and also leave (it) at other times. Stand up for prayer at night and also sleep at night.

“Your body has a right over you, your eyes have a right over you and your wife has a right over you.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Hadith 127).

Moderation is the key to success. One should not be excessive in anything, perchance it becomes harmful to you; just as doing the opposite is just as harmful.

Being a workaholic or being a lazy lethargic underachiever is no good, but the middle path — the path of moderation — is what is best. We should always be mindful to adopt a moderate course in all our dealings.

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately. . . Always adopt a middle, moderate, regular course, whereby you will reach your target (of paradise).” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Hadith 470).

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The good deeds of any person will not make him enter Paradise.”

The Prophet’s companions asked: “Not even you?” He replied: “Not even myself, unless God bestows His favour and mercy on me.

“So be moderate in your religious deeds and do what is within your ability. None of you should wish for death, for if he is a doer of good, he may increase his good deeds, and if he is an evil doer, he may repent to God.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Hadith 577).

So Bermuda, let’s allow our bodies to exercise their rights over us by our being kind and mindful to the signs they send us; we need to listen when our body says ‘enough is enough’.

Peace and blessings for a wonderful and restful long weekend.