1 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning, 2 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's 3 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:21,080 Speaker 1: tip is that life feels more doable when you have 4 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: special things to look forward to. So as you are 5 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: reviewing your schedule, ask yourself, what's on the horizon. What 6 00:00:29,880 --> 00:00:34,040 Speaker 1: am I genuinely looking forward to? This lets you enjoy 7 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:39,040 Speaker 1: anticipating what's coming up, or if you realize there's nothing 8 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:44,640 Speaker 1: fun coming up, you have an opportunity to rectify that situation. 9 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: So it's good to try to enjoy the moment we're in, 10 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:53,520 Speaker 1: whatever the future holds. But I know that many adults' 11 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: lives can feel like a long string of half to dos. 12 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: Work is fine, but it's work. You love your kids, 13 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:05,760 Speaker 1: But spending a Saturday driving back and forth between a 14 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: wrestling meet and someone else's swim meat and a piano 15 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: lesson trying to get to all of it can feel 16 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:14,600 Speaker 1: like a slog. We are probably less focused on things 17 00:01:14,600 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 1: that are purely fun for us. But while all of 18 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 1: life can't be bliss, having something you are looking forward 19 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:27,000 Speaker 1: to can make life feel less like a slog. If 20 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 1: winter weather is feeling dreary, knowing you are Going to 21 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 1: Florida in March can remind you that winter isn't interminable. 22 00:01:36,360 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 1: If work is stressful, signing up for a weekend yoga 23 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,440 Speaker 1: retreat can help you sprint through the busy season. You 24 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 1: know that rest and restoration are around the corner. If 25 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: you are feeling worn out by the demands of work 26 00:01:50,680 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 1: and family, a bedtime disaster will feel less overwhelming if 27 00:01:55,880 --> 00:01:58,720 Speaker 1: you know the next night is your monthly get together 28 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: with your book club, even if you are feeling busy, 29 00:02:02,520 --> 00:02:04,960 Speaker 1: and in fact, maybe especially if you are feeling busy, 30 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,519 Speaker 1: getting something special on the horizon can help you get 31 00:02:08,560 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 1: through that hard time. And let's be real, if we 32 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 1: don't plan fun in advance, it is unlikely to happen spontaneously. Lately, 33 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:21,120 Speaker 1: I've been thinking through the arc of the month at 34 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 1: the beginning of each month, what are the highlights and 35 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:28,800 Speaker 1: major things I have coming up. This practice has the 36 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 1: practical benefit of helping me make sure I am prepared 37 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 1: for anything big. The deadline for a book chapter won't 38 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 1: sneak up on me. If we're going on a vacation 39 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: that requires packing bathing suits, I can make sure everyone 40 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 1: has one that fits. But reviewing the arc of the 41 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: month in advance has emotional benefits too. It lets me 42 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: start looking forward to and preparing for the special things 43 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:57,799 Speaker 1: that are coming up. I can decide what book I'll 44 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 1: pack for a long plane ride without any kids with me. 45 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: I can listen to recordings of a piece of music 46 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 1: I'll get to hear live. On the other hand, if 47 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 1: I look at the arc of the month and there's 48 00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 1: not a lot that I'm excited about, I still have 49 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 1: time to plan something. Thirty days is enough time to 50 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 1: arrange for many things. So the next time you are 51 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: doing your weekly planning, also look forward a little bit further. 52 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 1: Notice the big things on the horizon. Of course, prepare 53 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 1: for anything you need to, but also think about what 54 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: you are genuinely looking forward to, and if there isn't something, 55 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: now is the time to make it happen. In the meantime, 56 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's to making 57 00:03:50,840 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: the most of our time. Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast. 58 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach 59 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 1: me at Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. Before Breakfast 60 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 1: is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts from iHeartMedia, 61 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: please visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you 62 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: listen to your favorite shows.