Let's Play!

Make it a game.

“MJ, why do you always take the time to stack each box like you’re playing Tetris?”

Photo by oo verthing on Unsplash

I thought since I’d left retail, I’d no longer have to work extra during the holidays…Wrong. During the past few weeks I’ve had to work much more than I’d like in our main office — the Amazon packages have been out of control. As you can imagine, the package counts quintuples from Black Friday through Christmas. So instead of two days a week, I’ve been working five for the past month. I don’t like it — I’m sick of it frankly. This isn’t what I signed up for. I’m contracted to work 25 hours a week — afternoons only, in my little office. But I get it — it’s all hands on deck right now, this is our busy season.

I guess I could go about it like one of my co-workers does — my dude has been in a funk for three weeks now. “I hate this time of year, all it means for me is more of this shit,” he said as he swiped his hand across the backroom one morning. And just then someone rang the bell at the counter, “F*** Christmas,” was his response as he sulked his way to the register.

I just want to ask him, “So how’s that working out for you?” But I already know the answer.

Meanwhile, I’m over here making a game of it all.

The pallets will come in, completely overloaded — so when you cut the shrink wrap off, the whole thing collapses. Challenge accepted! My mission, do not let the packages fall. Because if they do I’ll have to pick them up — which is tough on my hips and lower back, not to mention much slower. So I just cut the plastic halfway, and unload the boxes marked ‘Heavy’, that incidentally shouldn’t be on the top anyway. But whatever, it is what it is — I’m sure the warehouse isn’t intentionally trying to screw us. I imagine they’re overwhelmed too, I don’t want to think about what it’s like working in one of those places right now. I worked the weekend night shift at Walmart Distribution when my Sweetheart and I were just married, and it wasn’t any fun.

So anyway, I’m careful not to let the palette collapse — I make a game out of it. Then as I’m putting the packages in each carrier’s module, I go a step further — I place them in a neat pile.

Now mind you, this is NOT how the others do it. They throw the packages towards the carrier’s module. Yup, you read that right. They throw them. They cut the plastic allowing the palette to collapse all over the floor and against the other palettes. This leaves everything in a big nasty pile, shrink wrap entangled all about — then rush around like chickens with their heads cut off, throwing the packages here and there. It’s chaos, frankly.

And then you’ve got me, calmly unloading the pallet — taking the time to place each package neatly. BTW- I’ve watched the clock, and my way is NOT slower. It only appears to be, because I’m not running around. But if you were to watch closely there is still an urgency there, it’s just controlled. It’s wielded with the precision of a fencer — again, part of the game.

One morning during the holidays one of the rural carriers asked me, “MJ, why do you always take the time to stack each box like you’re playing Tetris?”

“Because I am!” was my response. “If I’ve got to spend my morning doing this instead of what or where I’d rather be, I might as well have some fun doing it.”

Then he went on to thank me for making his job easier, which I took great pride in. Mission accomplished. 😁

Am I always able to keep the palette overloaded with packages from collapsing on the floor? Nope. Do I always stack the packages perfectly in the carrier’s module? Not-ah. Must I sometimes step on the gas, and forgo some of the neatness? Sure. But that’s all a part of the game. I don’t write the rules, I just try my best to get the job done without decimating them.

Perspective is everything. And if you begin by dreading the day as soon as you open your eyes each new morning, or at the beginning of each task — I can guarantee that you will get exactly what you’re asking for.

This is yet another thing that I’ve learned by watching my 1yo grandson over the past year. My dude plays at everything! And he is the happiest human that I’ve ever known. Do you think that Bink, wakes up dreading this new day? No, he most assuredly does not. When he opens his eyes each morning, he is so happy to be alive. His sleepy little eyes are filled with joy — pure joy. It’s one of the most inspiring things I’ve ever witnessed, and it explains so much.

Now of course we all have many more responsibilities than the Binkster does. But that doesn’t mean that we have to trudge through them. Let’s play! Turn the task into a challenge — make it a game! And then not only will it be more fun, but I bet you’ll find that it goes much smoother. Not to mention that if things go sideways during a game, we’re much more likely to take it in stride and look for a solution, than to get all out of sorts about the possible consequences.

“Very little is needed to make a happy life — it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” - Marcus Aurelius.

Make it a game. Let’s Play!

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this post, please consider sharing it and clicking that ❤ button, and I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Oh and if you’re an email reader, just hit reply —I want to hear from you too! What’s task do you often turn into a game? Better yet, what’s one task that you dread, that you could turn into a game?

Don’t like commitments, but still want to support my writing? You can make a one-time contribution here.

---