The well known proverb "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" is something to contemplate in our culture that is so focused on making the next buck, answering your work cell on week-ends, and generally racing towards retirement when you can finally collapse. Not so fast! Actually, please come to a screeching halt.

In general, Europeans don't have to be taught to go play, have fun, go on vacation, attend cultural events and read a book every once in a while. But here, where it's virtuous to be a good corporate soldier, we need a reality check every once in a while.

When you're in a rut your productivity goes down, your motivation goes down, and the excitement of waking up every morning and creating a brand new day with a million possibilities vanishes. If your stress level is always on HIGH, if you're always ON, your pleasure hormones can't get through because the stress hormones are on a chronic ON. Not only that, you become a dull person with a single focus - work.

Instead, why not develop an activity or an interest that intrigues you? Research it, immerse yourself, become an expert. Something else to talk about when you get together with friends. Always work talk is boring. When you meet someone new in Europe the first question will almost never be "so what do you do?" In fact, people usually talk about everything but work when they get together socially.

Something to consider.