1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: Good Morning, This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: Today's tip is to make sure we always have special 4 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:22,639 Speaker 1: experiences to look forward to in the future. When we 5 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 1: do this, time and life in general feel far more 6 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:32,000 Speaker 1: rich and fun. This pandemic has been going on for 7 00:00:32,040 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 1: a long time, and for many people, remote work and 8 00:00:36,000 --> 00:00:38,760 Speaker 1: virtual school have been going on for a long time too. 9 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:44,520 Speaker 1: It's been a tough year with less travel, fewer social engagements, 10 00:00:45,000 --> 00:00:47,519 Speaker 1: and not even getting to leave home. In many cases, 11 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: the days can bleed into each other, constrain lifestyles feel monotonous. 12 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: Actively looking forward to special experiences can make time feel 13 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: differ frint. We feel excited as we anticipate the good experiences, 14 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:08,200 Speaker 1: and we are reminded that every day isn't exactly the same. 15 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:13,040 Speaker 1: So when is the next big thing in your life 16 00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: that you can start looking forward to. Maybe it's Thanksgiving, 17 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 1: which is next week for my US listeners. You love 18 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 1: pecan pie and turkey, and Thanksgiving is the day you 19 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 1: eat them. Christmas is just a few weeks away. You 20 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: could be looking forward to the day you decorate your tree, 21 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 1: the day you go see holiday lights, or hearing a 22 00:01:34,120 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: favorite Christmas album that you packed away after the holidays 23 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: last year. Everybody can probably add their own special days, vacations, birthdays, 24 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 1: important days at work, maybe outdoor, physically distant social gatherings 25 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 1: that are now on the calendar. By getting excited about 26 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: the next big things, we can give shape and meaning 27 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: to our time and avoid the feeling of monotony. Now, 28 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 1: I not encouraging you to wish your time away as 29 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 1: you look forward to things. This is not about saying 30 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:08,799 Speaker 1: to yourself, I can't wait till or only three more 31 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: weeks till vacation, because what about the months between now 32 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 1: and then? Time is ultimately limited, and so wishing time 33 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 1: away is a miserable bargain. We need to enjoy the 34 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: in between time. Two. Fortunately, I think it's possible to 35 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,280 Speaker 1: look forward to things while avoiding the trap of wishing 36 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 1: time away. One way to do that is to have 37 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 1: multiple things you're looking forward to at any given time. 38 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: Plan one big adventure and one little adventure each week. 39 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 1: That way, you're looking forward to the fire pit gathering 40 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: with your neighbors and going cross country skiing. You're looking 41 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:54,400 Speaker 1: forward to decking the tree and going to a local 42 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: amusement park that's open for limited admissions in a holiday light, 43 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:02,080 Speaker 1: display your look loking forward to Thanksgiving and cooking a 44 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 1: special dinner for your partner's birthday. The more of these 45 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:08,800 Speaker 1: things that are on the calendar, the more life feels 46 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:14,720 Speaker 1: rich and full. So today, try to identify several special 47 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:17,799 Speaker 1: experiences coming up in the next few months that you 48 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:21,639 Speaker 1: are looking forward to. If you draw a blank, well 49 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: turns out you are not helpless. Here schedule something that 50 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: you truly would look forward to. Whatever it is that 51 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: you can still do now, buy tickets, plan logistics, make 52 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: arrangements with friends. Don't just sit there. Think about what 53 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 1: adds joy to your life and make sure that you 54 00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: always have something to look forward to. When we can 55 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: look forward to big fun things in our futures, we 56 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 1: give shape to our time and we double the pleasure 57 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: of special events because we enjoy them while they're happening 58 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 1: and as we anticipate them. So what are you looking 59 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: forward to? What are the next big things in your life? 60 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 1: You can let me know at Laura at Laura Vanderkam 61 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 1: dot com. In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, 62 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 1: and here's to making the most of our time. Hey everybody, 63 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:27,039 Speaker 1: I'd love to hear from you. You can send me 64 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:30,719 Speaker 1: your tips, your questions, or anything else. Just connect with 65 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:35,159 Speaker 1: me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at Before Breakfast Pod. 66 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 1: That's b E the number four, then Breakfast p o D. 67 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: You can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast 68 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 1: podcast at i heart media dot com that Before Breakfast 69 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 1: is spelled out with all the letters. Thanks so much, 70 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 1: I look forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast is 71 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:01,600 Speaker 1: a production of I heart Radio. For more podcasts from 72 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: I heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 73 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:07,719 Speaker 1: or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.