Yes, Trident reckons this is an actual science. C’mon. If COVID taught us anything, it’s that quite a number of us can work from home. Sure, not every occupation can do so; doctors spring to mind. As do plumbers, electricians, emergency workers, factory workers, and er, exotic dancers.
So unless your occupation involves putting out fires, putting out traffic fines, or just er, putting out – let’s delve into ways in which Trident can help you get the most out of your life.
Perspective.
Straight off the bat though; we are gonna suggest the following; if your perception of balancing life and surfing would cause you to miss your own wedding to get the tube of your life – this article is not for you. Er, wink wink. We had to say that for legal reasons. Anyway, moving along.
As this is a Surf Science article, in the interest of full disclosure we must admit that surfing can be replaced with most any other healthy activity. So ja, healthy activities. So not activities such as napping (well, not really), drinking, shooting firearms randomly in the air, practising voodoo, attending seances, forming anti government militia, watching TikTok, trolling the WSL commentators and the like. No, we mean actual exercises; things like gym, jogging, squash, yoga, a brisk stroll, mall-walking, vagrant rodeo-riding, synchronised leopard crawling, extreme staring, downhill skipping, joyless carol singing, punch spiking, punching bags, punching checkers bags, punching winning lotto numbers into your keypad – stuff like that. Healthy activities all, which while we write in a surf context, doesn’t preclude other activities like the aforementioned.
Surfing is well documented as good for your health.
After all, the benefits of surfing, mentally, physically and emotionally are already well documented. It’s kinda weird then, when you say to your boss you want an extra hour for lunch ‘coz the waves are firing. He or she may glare blankly at you like you’re the dregs of the earth, a degenerate, useless, unreliable substance-abusing slacker layabout. But, said boss will happily take every Wednesday off for a round of golf, the hypocritical pratt.
See? Golf works for your boss as a healthy time out activity, so why not surfing for surfers? Let’s not even get into real science here; namely the charts, the wind, the conditions and the variability of it all – we know that. Ironically though, the same frustrating variability when it comes to surfing conditions could create havoc on the padel court or the golf course, so put that in your braai pit and smoke it.
Good health equals productivity. Er, after your surf at least.
Once more we repeat; emotional, mental and physical health is of critical importance as we all know. Surfing certainly ticks all three boxes, and it in turn improves one’s wellbeing, which again in turn improves one’s productivity at work. So if you can, take time off work to surf. Take leave days. Take sick days. Like “boardroom meetings” a “sick day” could be code for taking time off when the waves are, well – sick. Make up for your time off by working (With a smile on your face darn it) after hours. Although if you read these articles Trident previously wrote, surfing does present it’s only unique ability to produce anxiety, fear and dread.
