In physics, work is the transfer of energy from one body to another. It’s the product of the force applied and the distance over which the force acts. The unit for measuring work is the joule, which is also used to measure energy. Some examples of work include a horse pulling a plow through the field, a man pushing a cart of luggage uphill and an Olympian launching a shot-put.
We do a lot of work in our daily lives without even realizing it. For example, if you’re a commuter on the subway and you have to stand for your entire ride, you’re doing work because you’re constantly pushing against the weight of the train with your arms as it moves down the track. Another common example is a waiter holding a tray high over his head as he strolls across a room. In physics, this is considered work because the effort exerted on the tray transfers energy to him and makes him feel tired when he gets to his table.
When the force and displacement are aligned, it’s a positive amount of work. For instance, a person lifting a heavy box over his head does more work than if he simply held it up above his head. However, the force applied isn’t always matched to the displacement, so in some cases it doesn’t result in work being done.
The direction of the force and the displacement impacted by the force are also important to understand when it comes to calculating work. For example, if the force is applying to push the object upwards and the displacement is downwards, the work done is zero because the forces are in opposition. On the other hand, if a person is sitting on a table and books fall off it due to gravity, this would be considered work because the book falls downwards.
Whether it’s taking your lunch outside to enjoy the sunshine or making it a habit to compliment a stranger, small actions can make a big difference in how you feel. The same can be said for engaging in monthly volunteer activities or committing to go on a date once a month.
Many people find themselves spending too much time at work, and this can have a negative impact on their personal life. It can lead to work/life imbalance and burnout. In this case, it’s important to rebalance your life and focus on what’s really making you happy.
While reskilling employees to perform different types of routine tasks or using new technology can help, it doesn’t address the fundamental issue of how to expand the value of work for workers and companies. Only redefining what work is has the potential to unleash a vast amount of untapped human potential. It means imagining solutions for needs that don’t exist and tapping into the ability of people to solve nonroutine problems. It also means allowing frontline employees to seek out new challenges and opportunities that they’re better suited to than what traditional technology can offer.
