Live Whole Health #199: Playing with your schedule

If you shared your calendar with a friend, what they find a slot or scheduled time for play? Or just appointments, jobs and chores?

Other than special events, it seems, we rarely put fun activities on our calendars. We think of fun as optional. Something to do after our chores are done. The problem is that our to-do lists grow like weeds—as soon as one chore is done, another pops up!

Block time for fun!

Blocking time for hobbies, fun, and relaxation can be helpful in many ways. Here are a few thoughts:

• Gives you something to look forward to. Think about a time you were able to schedule a short trip. You didn’t only benefit from the trip itself, but from imagining what you would do, planning for it, and talking with friends and family about it. A weekend trip provides more than two days of fun, including the weeks of excitement leading up to it. Knowing something fun is on your calendar provides a similar boost of happiness even before you do it.
• Helps you use your time wisely. How many times have you found yourself with a free hour or two and ended up sitting on the couch trying to find something to watch on TV? If you plan to read, play music, paint, or go for a walk during that hour, you’ll benefit more than from spending the entire time channel surfing.
• Prioritizes self-care. A life without play can lead to depression, hopelessness, burnout and irritation; yet play is rarely a priority for us. Scheduling time for play is part of your health and well-being, and it can lead to a better mood, stronger relationships and a greater sense of personal satisfaction.

Start here by listening to this 10-minute visualization exercise: Scheduling Pleasant Activities. You can then practice setting aside 30-60 minutes a few times a week for doing things you enjoy. Once it becomes part of a regular routine, you may find yourself prioritizing and looking forward to those appointments, and you’ll still get your chores done.

Laughter heals

Check out this resource, LaughterHeals-508Final-01-25-2019.pdf (va.gov), to learn more about how humor will help improve your overall health.