Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning,
Speaker 1: This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's
Speaker 1: tip is that life feels more doable when you have
Speaker 1: special things to look forward to. So as you are
Speaker 1: reviewing your schedule, ask yourself, what's on the horizon. What
Speaker 1: am I genuinely looking forward to? This lets you enjoy
Speaker 1: anticipating what's coming up, or if you realize there's nothing
Speaker 1: fun coming up, you have an opportunity to rectify that situation.
Speaker 1: So it's good to try to enjoy the moment we're in,
Speaker 1: whatever the future holds. But I know that many adults'
Speaker 1: lives can feel like a long string of half to dos.
Speaker 1: Work is fine, but it's work. You love your kids,
Speaker 1: But spending a Saturday driving back and forth between a
Speaker 1: wrestling meet and someone else's swim meat and a piano
Speaker 1: lesson trying to get to all of it can feel
Speaker 1: like a slog. We are probably less focused on things
Speaker 1: that are purely fun for us. But while all of
Speaker 1: life can't be bliss, having something you are looking forward
Speaker 1: to can make life feel less like a slog. If
Speaker 1: winter weather is feeling dreary, knowing you are Going to
Speaker 1: Florida in March can remind you that winter isn't interminable.
Speaker 1: If work is stressful, signing up for a weekend yoga
Speaker 1: retreat can help you sprint through the busy season. You
Speaker 1: know that rest and restoration are around the corner. If
Speaker 1: you are feeling worn out by the demands of work
Speaker 1: and family, a bedtime disaster will feel less overwhelming if
Speaker 1: you know the next night is your monthly get together
Speaker 1: with your book club, even if you are feeling busy,
Speaker 1: and in fact, maybe especially if you are feeling busy,
Speaker 1: getting something special on the horizon can help you get
Speaker 1: through that hard time. And let's be real, if we
Speaker 1: don't plan fun in advance, it is unlikely to happen spontaneously. Lately,
Speaker 1: I've been thinking through the arc of the month at
Speaker 1: the beginning of each month, what are the highlights and
Speaker 1: major things I have coming up. This practice has the
Speaker 1: practical benefit of helping me make sure I am prepared
Speaker 1: for anything big. The deadline for a book chapter won't
Speaker 1: sneak up on me. If we're going on a vacation
Speaker 1: that requires packing bathing suits, I can make sure everyone
Speaker 1: has one that fits. But reviewing the arc of the
Speaker 1: month in advance has emotional benefits too. It lets me
Speaker 1: start looking forward to and preparing for the special things
Speaker 1: that are coming up. I can decide what book I'll
Speaker 1: pack for a long plane ride without any kids with me.
Speaker 1: I can listen to recordings of a piece of music
Speaker 1: I'll get to hear live. On the other hand, if
Speaker 1: I look at the arc of the month and there's
Speaker 1: not a lot that I'm excited about, I still have
Speaker 1: time to plan something. Thirty days is enough time to
Speaker 1: arrange for many things. So the next time you are
Speaker 1: doing your weekly planning, also look forward a little bit further.
Speaker 1: Notice the big things on the horizon. Of course, prepare
Speaker 1: for anything you need to, but also think about what
Speaker 1: you are genuinely looking forward to, and if there isn't something,
Speaker 1: now is the time to make it happen. In the meantime,
Speaker 1: this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's to making
Speaker 1: the most of our time. Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast.
Speaker 1: If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach
Speaker 1: me at Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. Before Breakfast
Speaker 1: is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts from iHeartMedia,
Speaker 1: please visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you
Speaker 1: listen to your favorite shows.