Ken Donaldson on Manage You First: Live, Love, Laugh and Time to Have Fun!
“People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing.” ~Dale Carnegie
When was the last time you scheduled “fun time” into your week?
Like literally on your calendar it says “Fun”?
For most people it’s not often enough.
In fact, for many people, it’s never.
Remember Jack?
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”.
Don’t be a Jack.
You may have heard something like this:
- Live like you cannot fail.
- Love like you’ll never be hurt.
- Laugh like no one else cares.
So…what’s the point of all that?
When you live, love and laugh like this, you’re bound to be having fun.
Some recent research revealed that:
- 26% of U.S. adults report being on the verge of a serious nervous breakdown.
- 26% of U.S. workers take no vacations at all.
Think there might some correlation here?
Maybe!
These are classic examples of people who did not schedule fun into their lives.
There is an old proverb that states, “A merry heart makes a good medicine.”
Wow…there “it” is in its simplest form.
There is a term “Psychoneuroimmunology” (PNI) which essentially looks at the mind-body connection.
And what is being discovered is that how we take care of our minds and our bodies has a direct impact on our immune system.
In other words, what we think and how we act can make us either well or sick.
Which do you think fun does?
Of course…fun makes you well…maybe even “weller”!!
Perhaps the beginning point is back at your calendar.
What would happen if you scheduled in some fun time every day?
Immediately many people would think, “I don’t have time for all the things I want to do already, how could I possibly find time for fun?!!”
How could you NOT?!!
Think about this:
- Workplaces that have a more fun environment have better employee morale, less turnover, higher productivity and superior customer service.
- Families that have more fun are more open, more relaxed, more playful and more connected.
- People who have a “more fun attitude” are more attractive, healthier, happier, and have better relationships.
Should I go on?
What would happen if you scheduled your fun time first every week?
Why don’t you try it?
What’s the worst that could happen? Could you be:
- Happier?
- Healthier?
- More connected with others?
- More successful?
Yeah…maybe you should stay away from fun…right?!!
Okay, here it is in 7 easy steps:
1.) Schedule fun time every day, even if it’s only 10 or 15 minutes. It has to be fun, NOT work pretending to be fun (I Know who you are!!).
2.) At the end of the day ask yourself what you liked best about your fun time.
3.) At the end of each week, evaluate your health, happiness and relationship harmony.
4.) If it feels embarrassing, uncomfortable, weird or awkward, you’re probably right on target. Those feelings will all pass with practice.
5.) Get some fun friends to join you in this fun commitment and share with each other your “funnest” moments of the day.
6.) Remember, this fun is all about you. It does NOT include making fun of other people. That’s NOT fun.
7.) If you get stuck and can’t seem to do it, then go to your local party or costume store and spend a buck on a clown nose. Wear that during your scheduled fun time. The rest will happen on its own!
Yes, it’s time for you to have more fun…live more…love more…and laugh more.
It’ll make your life more better!
Marry YourSelf First!