Plan for fun

08.10.2007

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?

 

2 Comments

  • Robin says:

    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.

  • Beth Dargis says:

    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?

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