So many times fun gets left out of our lives just because of poor planning.
Have you ever had to cancel a fun evening because work wasn’t done during the day?
Or ended up having a whole weekend of errands because you spent each evening watching TV or going to meetings instead of fitting in an errand here or there?
The other week I wanted to go to a free concert in the park, but I flitted around during the day, not getting what I needed done. So, I ended up working instead of going to the concert.
I hate when I do that.
Many times you can squeeze in fun at the end of another chore or errand. I like to take the kids for a one on one dinner/snack if they need to go to the doctor or dentist.
I like to plan how I am going to get my work done so I can go to the beach on Wednesday afternoon or not work the evenings (so easy to do when you work from home.) When I end up working the weekend or evenings, I know it is because I didn’t plan to get the important things done during work time.
Yesterday I had some work I needed to finish before the end of the day. I made sure I did that first so I was able to take the kids to the Street Performers Series in Holland. They do this every Thursday, but I’ve missed three weeks in a row. I was determined not to miss again.
When can you plan a fun time?
There was a free concert I wanted to go to this past Friday evening and working from my impossibly long To-Do list I realized if Iwas able to get everything done I would be too tired to go and enjoy myself. I also realized that if I didn’t go I would be angry and disappointed with myself. I have a habit of suggesting to my husband that we do something for entertainment and then come time to do it, I’m too tired. And then I wonder why I never have any fun. So what I did was – I slowed down and stopped stressing that I couldn’t possibly get everything down. I did the absolute essentials which even included getting dinner and cleaning up the kitchen – my husband helped. And I still had time to take a shower and look nice (for the both of us.) He appreciates the effort and I have lots more confidence in myself when I make the effort to look my best. It was an outdoors concert. The setting was perfect. The acoustics and music was indredible and the conductor was a HOOT!!! Slowing down and a conscious decision to change my thinking was all I needed. We had a delightful time!!! I can’t remember when we had such an enjoyable and relaxed evening. A benefit was that my husband called me at lunchtime today and asked me to make reservations to two places we got gift cards for at Christmas. He had a good time and is looking forward to spending more time alone with me. I was reflecting on fun today – what was fun as a child and then as a teenager and I realized that I have not really clearly defined for myself what fun is to me as an adult. I’m 52. So I’ve been at this adult thing for a while now. But I think this might be a clue to why I never seem to have any fun. So I made dinner reservations for Saturday evening and when Husband comes home from work we will discuss which play we will see. Focus and a more positive attitude have been tremendous tools for change in 2007.
Robin, thanks for sharing your experience. It’s funny we are tired because we don’t have fun, but we don’t have fun because we are tired. I am glad you were able to get the important stuff done so you could get out! And that’s a great question – what is fun for you as an adult?