Focus On Fun!
While there are plenty of longer days with more sunlight left on the calendar this year, summer is winding down and it will be time for a new school year very soon. Before jumping back into the routine of all a new school year brings, take some time to FOCUS ON FUN!
Seriously, you need to make sure that FUN is part of your life and, as strange as it may seem to say so, fun doesn’t always happen spontaneously.
When is the last time you laughed until you cried?
When is the last time you took a REAL break - from all your responsibilities?
When is the last time you went ANYWHERE without your “to-do” list?
As I write this, I’m just a couple of days from leaving for my annual “girls trip” with 4 college friends. It actually takes months of planning and communication to make these few days away a reality each year, but it’s worth it because our time together is a lifeline. It’s worth the effort and it’s SO MUCH FUN!
How can you focus on fun?
Make a commitment.
Our culture doesn’t always allow for a focus on fun! Instead, we celebrate our busy-ness and constant activity when, in reality, that goes against our nature. We were not created to function (and thrive) without rest and leisure. Science tells us that our brains require sleep for our health. Likewise, time spent in things that are enjoyable, spontaneous, and fun give our brains a break from constant “work”. Participating in fun things releases dopamine and seratonin, the “feel good” chemicals we need to help us reset and recharge. The bottom line? Fun clears mental clutter!
In order to make sure that you have fun when you need it, you have to make a commitment to allocate time for fun. While you can be flexible about the who, what, when, and where, the commitment to making it happen must be non-negotiable.
Make a plan.
Fun doesn’t just happen. And, fun doesn’t have to be something that takes up lots and lots of time. The truth is, no one is too busy for fun unless they want to be. Even if you can only find 5-10 minutes in your day, plan for fun. There are plenty of things you can do to turn your brain off and focus on fun.
Watch a funny video (seeing baby goats makes me laugh every time!)
Walk the dog (or just play with the dog)
Tell a joke.
Dance while you are preparing coffee.
And, when time allows, take some time AWAY - go fishing, get a facial, look at the mountains or the ocean. Fun is rarely accidental to make a plan so you don’t miss it!
Make fun a priority.
The good news about fun, other than the fact that it’s enjoyable, is that fun helps you be more effective. It gives you clarity, defends against burnout, and, ultimately, allows your mind to operate more efficiently.
What sounds like fun right now, today?
I’m not talking about a trip to a tropical paradise (although that would be lots of fun)! Think more in terms of something that is actually small, simple, and doable. Got it? Now, make a commitment and plan to do it sometime in the next 24 hours. And when you have finished that thing, go ahead and make a plan for your next fun thing. Before you know it, focusing on fun will be a habit you won’t want to quit!
