Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio.
Speaker 1: Good Morning, This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast.
Speaker 1: Today's tip is for when you get an opportunity, even
Speaker 1: though you aren't looking for more to do. If you
Speaker 1: think it will be fun, say yes. You will find
Speaker 1: the energy somewhere. Indeed, you will probably wind up with
Speaker 1: more energy then when you started. Now, this tip may
Speaker 1: seem a little strange coming from me. I am always
Speaker 1: telling people to build more open space into their lives
Speaker 1: and to plan how they'll spend their time. But here's
Speaker 1: the thing. Our plans are tools to help us shape
Speaker 1: the lives we want. Plans help us dedicate time to
Speaker 1: what matters to us. When our plans become too rigid,
Speaker 1: we can miss out on fun and meaning. And as
Speaker 1: for open space, well, the whole point of open space
Speaker 1: is that it is there to be used for cool stuff. Unfortunately,
Speaker 1: when it comes too fun, it is easy to walk
Speaker 1: around with a default story that we are too busy
Speaker 1: for such things. We say yes to all the things
Speaker 1: we think we should do or have to do, but
Speaker 1: then we say no to the stuff that we don't
Speaker 1: have to do but would kind of like to do.
Speaker 1: I'm too busy to go on a vacation. I'm too
Speaker 1: busy to go to that party. I have no time
Speaker 1: to visit my baby Nieza for the weekend. Now, maybe
Speaker 1: these stories make us feel important or hard working, but
Speaker 1: they don't exactly add joy and meaning to our lives.
Speaker 1: So here's an idea. If you really think it will
Speaker 1: be fun, say yes invitations and opperate tunity is abound.
Speaker 1: Maybe it's trying out that jazzer size class that you've
Speaker 1: seen advertised at the y. Maybe it's accepting your son's
Speaker 1: invitation to kick around a soccer ball before dinner. Maybe
Speaker 1: it's answering the phone call from the cousin you haven't
Speaker 1: spoken with in ages. Of course, it's always easier not
Speaker 1: to take opportunities like this, And yes, you are busy,
Speaker 1: You've got a lot going on. But the funny thing
Speaker 1: is if you say yes to things that energize you,
Speaker 1: you will often find yourself with good memories at the
Speaker 1: end of the day and a completed to do list. Somehow,
Speaker 1: the energy and focus we draw from spending our time
Speaker 1: well helps us get things done more easily. If you
Speaker 1: play with your son before dinner, dinner will still get made.
Speaker 1: Nobody has starved yet. Right, Maybe you'll just simplify your
Speaker 1: cooking and that's fine. Wouldn't you rather kick the ball
Speaker 1: with him and just use frozen vegetables and your stir fry.
Speaker 1: If you pick up the phone and have a conversation
Speaker 1: with your cousin, you won't get in that full second
Speaker 1: shift of work, but you will probably still finish the
Speaker 1: project you are planning to complete before bedtime. If you
Speaker 1: leave work earlier than usual one day a week to
Speaker 1: get to jazzer size, you may realize that you can
Speaker 1: get your work done without staying at your desk late
Speaker 1: every night. After all. Now, of course, there are times
Speaker 1: when we are truly operating with limited margin, and there
Speaker 1: are certainly invitations and opportunities that don't give us life.
Speaker 1: Maybe a party you are just not that interested in attending,
Speaker 1: or I get together with a friend who you really
Speaker 1: find draining. I am not suggesting you say yes to everything,
Speaker 1: not by any means, but when you can do, say
Speaker 1: yes to any opportunity that sounds like it might be cool.
Speaker 1: Energy is a funny thing. We tend to renew it
Speaker 1: by doing things that we find well energizing. If you
Speaker 1: have nothing specific that you are looking forward to. Then
Speaker 1: lying on the couch seems like a reasonable option. But
Speaker 1: if a long lost friend calls and says she's in town,
Speaker 1: well see if the sitter can stay an hour later
Speaker 1: and go meet up for a drink. Even if it's
Speaker 1: been a long week, we have a lot of long weeks.
Speaker 1: Seeing friends we haven't seen in years is priceless. In
Speaker 1: the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's
Speaker 1: to making the most of our time. Hey, everybody, I'd
Speaker 1: love to hear from you. You can send me your tips,
Speaker 1: your questions, or anything else. Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook,
Speaker 1: and Instagram at Before Breakfast hot that's B the number four,
Speaker 1: then Breakfast p o D. You can also shoot me
Speaker 1: an email at Before Breakfast podcast at iHeartMedia dot com.
Speaker 1: That Before Breakfast is spelled out with all the letters.
Speaker 1: Thanks so much, I look forward to staying in touch.
Speaker 1: Before Breakfast is a production of I Heart Radio. For
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Speaker 1: Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your
Speaker 1: favorite shows.