From the editor - tips for back to work

Iggy Pop has a unique way of relaxing when he’s not performing.

It’s always a bit of a challenge getting back into work mode after a break, but after a couple of weeks off, and now one week back I feel like I’m something of a savant on the subject.

I’ve compiled some tips for those suffering from anxiety and stress, a mountain of unrequited requests and emails, and a general malaise.

In Taupō getting back to work is a little bit harder than other places, because irritatingly, there are still heaps of people hanging around having fun, and looking relaxed.

My first gem actually comes from a column written by Dr Libby Weaver in The Listener and it’s quite simple.

A highly abbreviated version of that article is that you should emerge from a restful night’s sleep, avoid your phone first up, eat eggs on wholemeal toast for breakfast and save your coffee until mid-morning.

I actually completely mucked that up by reading that on my phone at 4am in the morning, waking from a typical, fitful, pre-deadline sleep before knocking back two coffees, skipping breakfast and rushing in to work to write this.

However, it pays not to dwell on the past, there’s not much you can do about it retrospectively. Anyway, I read somewhere else that going 16 hours a day without food is a great way to encourage the body to eat up fat reserves.

I’m a bit of an over-achiever when it comes to fat reserves, so decided to make a few lifestyle changes this year.

New Year resolutions are a bit of a naff way to make life-changing decisions however I’m a numbers-oriented person and it’s a hell of a lot easier to keep track of things when you know when you started.

Having identified sugar, alcohol and a lack of exercise as contributing factors for middle-age spread, I stopped the first two and started the third.

Now, I guzzle water out of pickle jars like some sort of beardless hipster and go for long, contemplative walks, like Moses did in the Bible.

This is actually not as bad as it sounds and after a brief period of withdrawal and moodiness, I actually feel sharper, calmer, more confident and able to tackle seemingly impossible tasks – sort of like a version of Harrry Potter.

My next motivational tip is to steal quotes off famous people and make them your own. I’m something of a skeptic and there is nothing I hate more than those cheesy slogans people paint on their kitchen walls.

So, I’ve gone off the reservation a bit with this one and who better to emulate than punk legend Iggy Pop who is in Taupō for the Summer Concert next weekend.

“Something I like to do a lot is just sit by water when there's a current and just stare into the water. I don't fish, I don't hunt, I don't scuba, I don't spear, don't boat, don't play basketball or football - I excel at staring into space. I'm really good at that.”

This is a very achievable thing and sums up a lot of my attempts at fishing anyway. The best way to do it is to check Mercury’s website to see what the flow is coming from the Control Gates into the Waikato River.

When it gets up around 200 cubic metres a second, it’s a great time to head down to the riverbank and stare at the fast-moving current.

You might see the odd person who didn’t get the memo, hurtling down the river on an inflatable alligator towards the falls. It’s recommended you don’t jump in the river if it’s flowing at over 140 cumecs.

Everyone’s got their own idea of relaxation and motivational tips, so feel free to share your ideas for getting back to work and staying motivated.

Best idea wins a voucher for a couple of mid-morning coffees at the Cozy Corner.

-Dan Hutchinson, Editor