Simple Solution: Play Time

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Sara Weeks, One of Thousands of Health and Fitness Coaches on Noomii.

Scheduling time to play is just as important as scheduling time for work, appointments, to-dos, etc. In fact, it may be more so. Often, we’re so caught up in the craziness of daily living that we easily forget to take time to actually enjoy our life. And aside from the “all work and no play…” adage, having fun is not just important for your wellbeing but also for those around you. In the wise words of a dear friend, “If mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.”

Simple Solution: Schedule Play Time

Make a list of 10 things you love doing. Make sure they’re things you actually love and not things you think you should love. As in, “I should love going to the gym because it’s good for me even though I break into a sweat just thinking about it.” or, “I should love reading this book on neuroscience because it will make me smart but really it just makes my brain hurt.” If you struggle to differentiate between something you love vs. something you think you should love, try using the Body Compass as your guide.

From your Playtime-List, pick one item and write it in your calendar. Set an alert if you think you’ll forget. Even the busiest schedules have five minutes to do something that feels good—taking a walk, turning off your phone and enjoying the silence, reading the latest gossip pages, calling a friend to catch up. Very important: when you do the activity, give it your undivided attention. Distractions cheat you from enjoying the full experience. When you’re finished, congratulate yourself on your achievement!

The more you consciously practice giving to yourself, the happier you’ll be and the more you’ll want to do. Added bonus: your increased happiness will inspire those around you. Who doesn’t want to be an inspiration?

I’d love to hear what Playtime-List item you’re going to schedule for this week! Share online: www.clearmindclearlife.com/1/post/2014/04/simple-solution-play-time.html!