[One Thousand Characters a Day] Professor Kim Kyung-il's 'Wisdom for Getting Work Done'

Editor's NoteEntangled human relationships, an uncertain future, money and success that feel distant, and even love. In life, there are many overwhelming and difficult moments blocked by big and small problems. How wonderful would it be if a wise person suddenly appeared and shared the secret to solving all these problems? Psychologist Professor Kim Kyung-il of Ajou University guides us into the world of psychology that explores the mysterious human mind through his book The Wisdom of the Mind. He tells stories of psychology that change everyday life through small practices, including the workings inside our minds when we judge and decide, how to control anxious feelings, and advice for living together in society. Word count: 905 characters.

Try typing "comfortable posture" into Google and search for images. You will find photos of people who look blissfully happy: someone reclining sideways on a sofa flipping through a remote control, a person lying sprawled on a bench reading a book, another sinking into a top-of-the-line massage chair with eyes gently closed.

If you are currently working busily in an uncomfortable posture, you might sigh with envy. You start dreaming of a more comfortable position. But we all know this: no matter how comfortable a posture is, if you have to stay still in it for more than an hour, it becomes hell.

No matter how much rest you need, if you only rest, your body and mind suffer. You need to occasionally shift your hips, turn your head, move your legs back and forth, and stretch. Similarly, burnout does not come from working too much. It comes from doing only one kind of work.

There are people around us who handle more tasks than others without getting tired and always maintain their energy. Their characteristic is that they know how to frequently switch the type of work they do, like turning a switch on and off. Cognitive psychologists call this ability "voluntary switch." People skilled at voluntary switching do not easily fall into the lethargy associated with burnout. On the other hand, some people consistently do only one task from clock-in to clock-out. From afar, they may seem quite determined. But as a psychologist, I worry about their state. Their working hours are likely a process of suppressing pain.

Do you feel like your body and mind are exhausted like wet cotton after work every evening? Then consider how you approach your work. Focusing on just one thing is not always best. Sometimes, you need the wisdom to voluntarily turn the switch on and off.

- Kim Kyung-il, The Wisdom of the Mind, Forest Books, 18,800 KRW