1 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of I Heart Radio. 2 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: Good Morning, This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. 3 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:20,479 Speaker 1: Today's tip is for when you get an opportunity, even 4 00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:24,239 Speaker 1: though you aren't looking for more to do. If you 5 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: think it will be fun, say yes. You will find 6 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:33,479 Speaker 1: the energy somewhere. Indeed, you will probably wind up with 7 00:00:33,560 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: more energy then when you started. Now, this tip may 8 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 1: seem a little strange coming from me. I am always 9 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:44,880 Speaker 1: telling people to build more open space into their lives 10 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 1: and to plan how they'll spend their time. But here's 11 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: the thing. Our plans are tools to help us shape 12 00:00:52,360 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: the lives we want. Plans help us dedicate time to 13 00:00:56,760 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 1: what matters to us. When our plans become too rigid, 14 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:04,399 Speaker 1: we can miss out on fun and meaning. And as 15 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: for open space, well, the whole point of open space 16 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: is that it is there to be used for cool stuff. Unfortunately, 17 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: when it comes too fun, it is easy to walk 18 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:20,639 Speaker 1: around with a default story that we are too busy 19 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:23,920 Speaker 1: for such things. We say yes to all the things 20 00:01:23,920 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 1: we think we should do or have to do, but 21 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: then we say no to the stuff that we don't 22 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: have to do but would kind of like to do. 23 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: I'm too busy to go on a vacation. I'm too 24 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: busy to go to that party. I have no time 25 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: to visit my baby niecea for the weekend. Now, maybe 26 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 1: these stories make us feel important or hard working, but 27 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 1: they don't exactly add joy and meaning to our lives. 28 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: So here's an idea. If you really think it will 29 00:01:54,560 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: be fun, say yes invitations and opper tunity is abound. 30 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 1: Maybe it's trying out that jazzer size class that you've 31 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: seen advertised at the y. Maybe it's accepting your son's 32 00:02:08,440 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 1: invitation to kick around a soccer ball before dinner. Maybe 33 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 1: it's answering the phone call from the cousin you haven't 34 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:19,679 Speaker 1: spoken with in ages. Of course, it's always easier not 35 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:25,079 Speaker 1: to take opportunities like this, And yes, you are busy, 36 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: You've got a lot going on. But the funny thing 37 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: is if you say yes to things that energize you, 38 00:02:32,120 --> 00:02:34,800 Speaker 1: you will often find yourself with good memories at the 39 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:39,639 Speaker 1: end of the day and a completed to do list. Somehow, 40 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:42,520 Speaker 1: the energy and focus we draw from spending our time 41 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 1: well helps us get things done more easily. If you 42 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 1: play with your son before dinner, dinner will still get made. 43 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 1: Nobody has starved yet. Right, Maybe you'll just simplify your 44 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 1: cooking and that's fine. Wouldn't you rather kick the ball 45 00:02:59,400 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: with him and just use frozen vegetables in your stir fry. 46 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 1: If you pick up the phone and have a conversation 47 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:07,959 Speaker 1: with your cousin, you won't get in that full second 48 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:11,120 Speaker 1: shift of work, but you will probably still finish the 49 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 1: project you are planning to complete before bedtime. If you 50 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 1: leave work earlier than usual one day a week to 51 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: get to jazzer size, you may realize that you can 52 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: get your work done without staying at your desk late 53 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:27,520 Speaker 1: every night. After all. Now, of course, there are times 54 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 1: when we are truly operating with limited margin, and there 55 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 1: are certainly invitations and opportunities that don't give us life. 56 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:39,480 Speaker 1: Maybe a party you are just not that interested in attending, 57 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: or I get together with a friend who you really 58 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 1: find draining. I am not suggesting you say yes to everything, 59 00:03:48,720 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: not by any means, but when you can do, say 60 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 1: yes to any opportunity that sounds like it might be cool. 61 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: Energy is a funny thing. We tend to renew it 62 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: by doing things that we find well energizing. If you 63 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:10,080 Speaker 1: have nothing specific that you are looking forward to. Then 64 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:13,880 Speaker 1: lying on the couch seems like a reasonable option. But 65 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:17,080 Speaker 1: if a long lost friend calls and says she's in town, 66 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 1: well see if the sitter can stay an hour later 67 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:24,600 Speaker 1: and go meet up for a drink. Even if it's 68 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:28,040 Speaker 1: been a long week, we have a lot of long weeks. 69 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: Seeing friends we haven't seen in years is priceless. In 70 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:40,599 Speaker 1: the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening, and here's 71 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:50,280 Speaker 1: to making the most of our time. Hey, everybody, I'd 72 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:52,720 Speaker 1: love to hear from you. You can send me your tips, 73 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 1: your questions, or anything else. Just connect with me on Twitter, 74 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 1: Facebook and Instagram at Before Breakfast pod that's B the 75 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:06,599 Speaker 1: number four, then Breakfast p o D. You can also 76 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 1: shoot me an email at Before Breakfast podcast at iHeartMedia 77 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: dot com. That Before Breakfast is spelled out with all 78 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: the letters. Thanks so much, I look forward to staying 79 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 1: in touch. Before Breakfast is a production of I Heart Radio. 80 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: For more podcasts from I Heart Radio, visit the i 81 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to 82 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.