Saturday, February 5, 2011

Finding time for fun

I've decided that if I had one super power it would be to stop time. I know it doesn't seem original, but lately between interviews, revisions, two jobs, and helping Kate with a massive scholarship search, I've found that a few hours tacked on to the end of each day would really help a lot.

We've discussed time management before, but it just seems to be getting worse. I've now limited twitter/fb/blogging/goodreads time to just twice a day, and I only check email in the morning and night. I've implemented a strict regiment of writing for 90 minutes in the morning, and trying to get another 90 in at night. During those times, no internet. And yet, even then, I find myself frustrated, not able to get to all the things I need to do, and certainly not getting to much of the things I want.

Kate reminded me this past week that I needed to make time for fun. I needed to take a moment and relax. Sit down and watch and episode or two of Gilmore Girls. I almost responded with the first five items on the top of the to-do list, and then I realized she was right. Yes, I have a lot to do, but maybe if I took a little time for me, I'd find joy in some of the more mundane chores on the list.

And then it occurred to me that maybe the mundane didn't have to be quite so ... mundane. Why not try and have a little fun while doing some of life's necessities? This morning we headed to the grocery store, but on the way we stopped for Starbucks. We had meaningful conversation in the car, while shopping, and even as I sit here typing, Kate is on the laptop next to me sifting through scholarship criteria. Jason Mraz is playing in the background, Kate chiming in every now and then with ridiculous application descriptions. Even though I'm doing something on my to-do list, I'm with my daughter and we are having fun.

Maybe I don't need that super power after all ... maybe I just needed an attitude adjustment. :-)

How do you manage to keep the fun in your life?

2 comments:

  1. I try and take one day a week, even if it's just for a few hours, and step outside of my normal schedule. Get together with a girlfriend and gallivant. We have a no-talking-about-work-or-stressful-crap clause. For those few hours, life is about laughing!

    It's like the saying goes, "Don't take life too seriously--no one gets out alive anyway." ;)

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  2. Depressing,but true! And a few hours set aside a week is an intriguing idea!

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