Keeping Busy Promotes Stability in the Workplace - 2

Picking up where we left off, St. Benedict understood the importance of making sure his monks were busy with the right things. So he provided specific guidance for them to follow throughout the year. To wit:

"To this end we think that the times for each may be determined in the following manner. From Easter until September the 14th, the brethren start work in the morning and from the first hour until about the fourth do the tasks that have to be done. From the fourth hour until about the sixth let them apply themselves to reading. After the sixth hour, having left the table, let them rest on their beds in perfect silence; or if anyone wishes to read by himself, let him read so as not to disturb the others. Let None be said early at the middle of the eighth hour; and let them again do what work has to be done until Vespers. But if the circumstances of the place or their poverty require them to gather the harvest themselves, let them not be discontented; for then are they truly monks when they live by the labour of their hands, like our fathers and the apostles. Yet let all things be done in moderation on account of the faint-hearted."

Having provided a structure for the monks practical work, typically manual labor, he naturally covers the monks' prayer life as well (ora). Ora and labora must function together seamlessly. Here are further instructions for reading and prayer:

"From September the 14th to the beginning of Lent, let them apply themselves to reading up to the end of the second hour. Let Terce be said at that point, and from then until None let them all work at the tasks appointed to them. As soon as the first signal for None has been given, let them all abandon their work, and hold themselves ready for the sounding of the second signal. After the meal let them apply themselves to their reading or to the study of the psalms."

And, always aware of the importance of adjusting activity to the seasons of the Liturgical Calendar, he adds a final touch:

"In the days of Lent let them apply themselves to their reading from the morning until the end of the third hour, and from then until the end of the tenth hour let them perform the work that is assigned to them. In these days of Lent let them each receive a book from the library, which they shall read through consecutively; let these books be given out at the beginning of Lent. But one or two senior monks should certainly be deputed to go round the monastery at the times when the brethren are occupied in reading, to see that there be no slothful brother who spends his time in idleness or gossip and neglects the reading, so that he not only does himself harm but also disturbs others. If there be such a one (which God forbid), let him be corrected once and a second time; if he do not amend, let him undergo the punishment of the Rule, so that the rest may be afraid. And the brethren should be associate with on another at unseasonable hours."

However we structure our daily work, if we are to keep busy we need this level of scheduling and attention to detail. Over time, I've developed blocks of time for certain activities that typically vary with the quarter, the month, the week and the day. I've had my tech genius develop a program that allows me to print out each weeks activities, from which I create a single page broken down by days. That sheet consists of two main ingredients: 1) recurring activities that might repeat annually, quarterly, monthly, or weekly; 2) activities needed to address specific circumstances.

The recurring activities include annual compliance notices, quarterly client reviews and reports, monthly activity reviews, weekly reading, research and analysis, regular business reviews. 

The activities that address specific circumstances include matters related to individual clients who need attention and advice, actions to take in response to the economy and the financial markets, handling urgent matters or crises that come up from time to time, etc.

The result is that I keep busy and none of that is mere busy work. Frankly, as a sole proprietor, I have no reason to look busy, nor do I have the time to waste on work that doesn't accomplish some goal or need of the business and its clients.

The Rule of St. Benedict has helped me in my efforts to refine and improve all the time. Just reading it each day provides the impetus to try to emulate St. Benedict's organized approach and attention to detail.

In time, I've been able to include prayer and other pious activities throughout the work day. As mentioned in previous posts, these include praying the Divine Office throughout the day. Without daily reading the Rule, it's likely none of that would have been possible. 

By now, it should be clear how keeping busy - in the right way - benefits both out business and our souls. It's also evident that keeping busy will promote stability in the workplace.