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Monday, February 24, 2020

What If You Were Spontaneous & Willing to Try New Adventures?

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a rut. I have. I was working for a "local" company.  I say "local" because they might have been based a few miles away, the location where I was employed was an hour drive away. While I love my family, I felt like I spent most of my days in my car. I got up early to get my husband off to his job...and then the hour commute into where I worked.

After a 12 - 14 hour day, it was back in the car for the hour drive home. Then it was dinner and dishes. By the time I was finished for the night it was almost time for bed. I was  exhausted and frustrated that there was no time for me.

When the weekend finally arrived, my husband or the grandkids would want to do something fun. But I was so tired or behind on household chores, I frequently said no. And forget about trying to expand my business. I barely had time to keep what I had already built running.

Now, I wanted to be more spontaneous but I was not sure how to make it happen. I just knew something had to change.

Create Margin in Your Life

One day after listening to me complain, my sister suggested I start by cutting back. I couldn't be more spontaneous because I scheduled every minute of the day with tasks from the time I got up until I went to bed. There was always so much to do. Meals to cook. House to clean. Laundry. Yard work. The list was never-ending. But my sister made me realize that trying to be the perfect wife, perfect housekeeper, perfect everything while still working basically 14 - 16 hours a day, including the round-trip commute, was impossible. So what if we ate out more often or all of our meals weren't prepared from scratch. The house didn't have to be company-ready all the time. Laundry could be done one day on the weekend.  

While having plenty on your to-do list may make you feel productive, it can also keep you from creating the life you want. But building margin in your life doesn’t have to be difficult. It can be as simple as blocking off two hours in your day planner each week. Make no plans for those two hours and see what happens.

Embrace a Positive Attitude

If you’re going to add more spontaneity to your life, you need to keep a positive attitude. When you’re upbeat and positive you’re more likely to try (and enjoy) new things. That means you might find new ways to fulfill obligations, spend quality time with family.... (gasp) try something innovative with your business!

When I’m nervous or worried about serving a new meal for dinner (my husband is not adventurous when it comes to his food), trying something new with my business, or doing something new with the family, I often remind myself that all of my "obligations" will still be there tomorrow, or that hubby just might find another favorite food, or that even if my new business tactic doesn't work, I will have at least learned something.  

Do It with a Friend

Sometimes we fill our to-do list deliberately. We may be hesitant to step outside of our comfort zone and embrace new experiences. A full schedule provides the perfect excuse to say no. But you don’t have to tackle something new all by yourself. You can always bring a friend along to enjoy the journey with you. Maybe that means booking an extra plane ticket if you’ll be exploring a new city or meeting up to try a new Pilates class together.

When you and a friend do activities together, it strengthens your bond. It helps you grow closer and gives you fun memories that you can both cherish for years to come.

Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously

Give yourself permission to laugh! When you approach an adventure with a serious mindset, you drain all the joy from it. So what if your first painting doesn’t look like a masterpiece? Who cares if your body wiggles like gelatin while you try belly-dancing? Does it really matter that your first YouTube video wasn't polished and perfect if it got your message across?

The important thing is that you have fun. You can explore new hobbies, challenge your boundaries, and discover more about what makes you happy and productive.

I listened to my sister and gradually lightened my schedule. I found my family was actually okay with my new choices and happier because I wasn't always exhausted and irritable. And I discovered that being spontaneous is easier when you create space for it.

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