Today’s post is a sample of my weekly organizing quick tip. If you don’t currently subscribe, you can sign up here. Enjoy. 🙂
For this week’s Quick Tip, I have a little question for you:
What’s on your play list?
Now just to be clear, I’m not talking about the play list on your MP3 player, smart phone or iPod. Nope—the kind of play list I’m referring to has nothing to do with music. Instead, it has everything to do with good old fashioned fun.
So what’s a play list? Well, it’s the distant cousin of the to-do list. A play list, you see, is a list of things you do just for fun.
Now if you’re thinking, I don’t have a play list because I don’t have time for fun…well…this is precisely the right time to create a play list. We all need time to play, time to do things that nourish our souls, quiet our minds, and energize our bodies. Whether your play list involves actual play like sports or playing with your children, or your play time activities are things like knitting, reading, or another creative pursuit, it makes sense to play. When you carve out time for fun in your schedule, you approach your work with more enthusiasm and energy. In essence, this means when you have more fun, you get more done. (Hey, that sounds like a tag line I know…!)
Take Action!
First, create your play list of things to do just for fun—to play, to relax, or to restore your energy. Then, pick one item from your list and add it to today’s to-do list. Give this activity the same level of priority as you would a dentist appointment or paying the bills. (I’m serious.) Finally, take note of how you feel, and of how you approach every other item on your to-do list when you know that today you get to play! Let me know how this little experiment works for you. Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear from you!
Happy playing!
A very timely reminder. I will try it and let you know!
My all-time favorite “play” is reading. Much as I’d like to be an outdoorsy-type, I’m not and reading just nourishes me in every way. I’ve also just recently got back to cardmaking (after a year off after my dad died). I love the creativity it allows and the blessing I hope it brings to others when they receive one of my handmade creations in the mail.
Things that make you say “huh.” I’m in Aby’s It’s About Time class, and one of my goals is to get better about making and taking time for me. I have a giant to-do list that actually includes a “want to” section. But it’s so far down the list I never even look at it! By making a separate list, I may just give it the priority it deserves.
I NEED to craft. And I do mean NEED. During a period of several weeks a couple of months ago, I was too busy to do anything except work. And I suffered. It was like my soul diminished. When I make things (and it can be a 10 min card here, or – WAAAAY more rarely!! – a whole day over a quilt !!) I walk out of my craft room calmer, happier and more focussed on what I need to achieve next. It’s very freeing – and luckily I haa DH who recognises and supports me !
I just added something new to my playlist…get more active in genealogy and today I got invited to a training to conduct oral history interviews on people who live near Harriett Tubman’s birthplace on Maryland Eastern Shore. Something I want to do for a change! Now that’s play to me.
Thanks everyone for your comments! I love reading what’s on your play list. My favorite play activity at the moment is knitting. Sooo relaxing. 🙂
Pam, I’m so sorry about your Dad’s passing. I’m glad you’re back to the card making—it must be very therapeutic.
Aby