Hi,
How are you today?
Today I want to talk about a lesson we can all learn from this quote I read:
“Work is more than earning money.”
Too many people equate work with having a job.
But I want you to see what this quote has to do with bipolar disorder.
Let’s replace the word “work” with “productivity.”
Now let’s talk about how important productivity is to someone who has bipolar disorder, like I do in my courses/systems.
NEW
LEARN THE SECRETS OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL WITH
BIPOLAR DISORDER?
http://www.bipolarsupporter.com/bipolarmastersystem/
SUPPORTING AN ADULT WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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SUPPORTING A CHILD/TEEN WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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http://www.bipolarparenting.com
HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER?
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http://www.survivebipolar.net
Someone who had to leave their job and stay at home because of their bipolar disorder no longer works for money, but they still need to be productive.
That’s because if they’re not, they could become bored, or idle, or stay in bed, or sleep too much, or become depressed, and all these things can become triggers to a bipolar episode.
So I think we can agree that productivity is important.
Well, that’s work!
Only it’s work without getting money for it.
Now, I could have said that it’s work without pay, but the pay you get can be more rewarding than money sometimes.
For example, if the work you do is to help your supporter around the house, then it’s rewarding, because you’re helping them not to stress out by doing too much by themselves.
It can also be rewarding because you’ll have a closer relationship by doing things together.
Your work can be your hobbies.
Your work can be just taking care of yourself and your family.
Another way you can work without getting paid is to volunteer.
You can offer your time, which is worth more than money.
If nothing else, volunteer to help at your bipolar support group.
This could be for supporters, too, because they usually have their own support group.
Or volunteer for an organization that could use your help.
There are many of these, such as Literacy Volunteers, where you help people to read who can’t read, or others who don’t know English very well and you can help them to learn it…
Or volunteer at your local Animal Shelter if you love animals…
Or help with the needy… or shut-in elderly people…
There is so much you can do that is rewarding, just by volunteering your time, that is worth more than money, and you will feel appreciated for whatever you do for a cause.
You can also do things that are productive for yourself.
You can keep a To-Do List, for instance.
Put things on the list that you want to do for that day.
(Don’t make it too long, because you don’t want to get too overwhelmed.)
Then, at the end of the day, you will feel a sense of accomplishment when you complete the things on your list.
Now, here there’s a difference between work for money and productivity as well, because you’re doing this for yourself and the management of your bipolar disorder.
This will help you to stay stable.
And sometimes working at a paying job does just the opposite – sometimes it makes you feel nervous, stressed, and anxious, which isn’t good at all for your disorder.
If you have children, being a stay-at-home parent can be work, as you know, and you don’t make money for it.
But boy can it be rewarding in other ways!
The lesson to be learned from all this is that work means using our time and skills to make things better for ourselves, those we love, and those around us.
What do you think?
Do you agree or disagree with the quote: “Work is more than earning money.”
What ways have you found this to be true?
David Oliver is the author of the shocking guide “Bipolar Disorder—The REAL Silent Killer.” Click Here to get FREE Information sent via email on how and why bipolar disorder kills.
Post responses below
my elementary grade children love it that mommy is home, and not working all the time. Sometimes I have to literaly drag myself out of bed to get them to school, but they go.When doing dishes, I thank God than I am able to do dishes. Some people are not. I think I waste my education, because I work as a registered nurse. But, I go on yahoo answers and answer questions, and have people email me with suggestions. Letting them know however, that not legal info, just my education and experience. Family and friends still ask me for advice. When I have been depressed and the house gets messy..I rejoice when I feel better and can clean, clean, clean. And the boys help, because they want a nice clean home to be proud of too. When I have energy I take them to church, and we do bible study at home.But, most of all, after five years, I realizeI needed to date again. I need my special someone, who wants to be with me, not just needing me and depending on me. And I went on my first date in five years, this past Friday. It felt wonderful..I truly feel that I am worth something again, that my life is not worthless, and I think the world is less bleak that I am in it. This, for me, is a great accomplishment! I am productive, and I still can live, and enjoy life. And what I do for my family, no it is not for money, because love cannot be bought. What I give of myself is priceless! For God hath not given me the spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a Sound Mind!
I believe the best thing that anyone with bipolar disorder can do is volunteer work. It takes you out of your self for a while, and you’re productive.
HI MENTEL HEALTH WORLD….
Yes I agree doing something you want to do is rewarding and satisfing at the end of the day, Even if it is volunteering. if its somthing you enjoy doing then I say go for it.
Take Care Linda x
Dave;
So you do only have a few of these pre typed & sent automaticaly Daily.
I see as I get many over & over, such as this one.
So why the Facard, the verneer of trying to put them over as if they are personal & created Daily?
I see more psychiatrist FRAUD. Just can’t help yourself, can you Little One?
Vulenteer, I have been voulenteering myself to Women for years. The latest one travels the World regualary, & says I can go with her.
Seems you do get back that which you put out.
When do we start our Debate Dave.
Or are you just FULL OF IT?
To DEB: I applaud your “work” as a Mom! Having not been able to have children, I misssed out on the rewards of family and motherhood. I KNOW sometimes it’s hard to get out of bed some mornings, but you’ve “overcome the world.” AND – I’m GLAD you’re taking care of YOUR needs, too, by starting to date. Just remember – you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you meet your Prince! You go, girl!!
I feel productive when I go on the computer. Not only do I keep my typing skills up, but even posting blogs here keep me grounded and focused. I feel we ALL help others on here, as well as them helping us. You have to walk a mile in the moccasins to know what you’re talking about; and I can sooo relate to a LOT of people who post here.
I have thought about volunteering, but the thought of HAVING to be at a certain place at a certain time, FRIGHTENS me to death. I remember when I was working for a living, there were days I just COULDN’T go in to work. Lost a LOT of jobs that way 😉 If I DID volunteer, I’d LOVE to walk a dog at the shelter, or visit the elderly at a nursing home. But – even THAT sounds too much like WORK.
My therapist said I should NEVER work, and I finally understand why. I am completely UNABLE to follow a schedule, due to my illness. I guess I should ACCEPT that limitation, and do what I can on the Internet. It DOES give me purpose, and like I said, I earned $187 answering surveys, so there IS some compensation sometimes 🙂
BIG HUGS to all bipolar survivors and those who love us. May God bless you real good. I pray for my country.
I am a visual artist and I find it very difficult to be my own taskmaster even though I know I need to treat a day as a ‘work’ day. However I volunteer teach both drawing and computer intro and go to an adult school where I learn more computer and extend my art skills. I find that these things do indeed help to lessen the incidence of bipolar episodes.
Hi Dave!
This is good advise for anyone who finds themselves unemployed or now on disability like myself. I have a number of health issues but still have some occasional days that I wish I could still be a productive part of society. The places that I’ve tried to volunteer at don’t want my help because I’m not dependable enough, if you can believe it. It’s free help when I can and they refused it. Weird. But I’ll keep trying. Someone has got to want free help somewhere…
I think todays lesson was a great one….I have been feeling real shity it the last few weeks,I lost my job,and i have been sleeping in ever sinces..So this lesson really hit home for me,it is about time i got off my back sided and started doing something…But i do need a paying job,so i can take care of my family,but in the mean time,i guess it couldn’t hurt to do some volunteer work………I would like to take a few minutes to THANK-YOU for your support,and i hope that everyone got the message,in there own way..Talk with you soon…….STEVE
When a person is stable, and I emphasize the word stable, because if you aren’t in a good place in your life, it is counter-productive to push yourself to do things that you don’t feel up to.
Myself, I know that when I am feeling good (also I have been deemed permanently unemployable by my federal government tax service,so I will never be able to work for money again)I try to do little things for people in my life, who might not be doing so well.
It makes me feel that sometimes I am a contributing member of society.
Since I have been in the depths of depression often, I know what a difference it can make to me when someone just does a little thing for me. Even the small act of making a phone call to me, and ask how I am doing, can make the world of difference to me.
I assume that others feel the same way, so when I am able I try to do that one for others.
I have to be careful though to not over-extend myself. I must be very vigilant on my own mental-health state.
I guess that the point of all of us being on this earth, is to try to make the world a little bit easier for those around us.
Hi Dave,
I agree we all (bipolar or not)need something to do to make us feel productive. I am lucky to have a part time job a couple of days a month. It is a very flexable job and I am pretty much my own boss. There was a time when I did do volenteer work (I drove for the county residents who needed dr. office transportation) and it got to be a full time job and the stressers really caught up to me and I had to quit. I recomend that anyone who is looking to volenteer not let themselves get to the point I was at. Set limits on how many hours you can work because overdoing it can cause one to go into an episode.
Keep up the good work.
To troy,
Having a bad day?
Sure sometimes we get the same e-mail twice, but for most of us who sometimes only get the time to download our mail once a week – so what. I know this may be falling on deaf ears, but thank God someone like David Oliver takes the time at all. None of us have to agree or disagree with what he says the lesson is keep reading anyway. Every thing is just a season, and guess what the season’s change, negative feelings or days don’t last forever. pick a good day and pick up your e-mails then or of course there is always the ‘Unsubscribe’ option.
Take care – keep the support going especially when you know better.