1 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:09,399 Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning, 2 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's 3 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: tip is to make your days fulfilling and not just filled. 4 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 1: Today's tip, like another this week, comes from Cassie Holmes, 5 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: a UCLA Business School professor an author of the book 6 00:00:32,760 --> 00:00:37,879 Speaker 1: Happier Hour, How to beat distraction, expand your time, and 7 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 1: focus on what matters most. Holmes notes that during the 8 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,800 Speaker 1: COVID pandemic, she and some other people, as she put it, 9 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: found some unexpected happiness amid this unquestionably unhappy time. She 10 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 1: writes about one friend whose nightly routine during the pandemic 11 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:01,480 Speaker 1: involved her seven year old sun, setting the table with 12 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: a theme for the night dinner, and then a game 13 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:10,319 Speaker 1: of cards. Holmes's friend commented, before my days were filled, 14 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: but not with things that were fulfilling. This time has 15 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 1: made us closer. We can all probably recall times when 16 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:23,680 Speaker 1: our days were filled but were not especially fulfilling, when 17 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:25,920 Speaker 1: we were running from one thing to the next, without 18 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 1: a lot of meeting, even with potentially meaningful events on 19 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:33,800 Speaker 1: the calendar, like a walk with a friend, the pressure 20 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 1: of things to be done can keep us from being 21 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:42,919 Speaker 1: fully present and engaged. But we always have the power 22 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 1: to make sure our days feel fulfilling and not just filled. 23 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:51,000 Speaker 1: You won't be surprised that one tip I have for 24 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: this is to plan for meaning. Don't just assume that 25 00:01:55,720 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 1: your life must be fulfilling if your schedule is filled. Instead, 26 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: actively consider what will be fulfilling, what will have an 27 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 1: impact on you and others, what will you remember and 28 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 1: what will matter a month from now or even a 29 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: year from now. On Fridays, when you are planning the 30 00:02:17,600 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 1: week ahead, I suggest considering your priorities for career, relationships, 31 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:29,119 Speaker 1: and self. In each category, consider what is most important 32 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: for you to do in the week. This isn't a 33 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: laundry list of all the things that need to be done. 34 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: You are being intentional about determining what really matters. Maybe 35 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: your career priority is having an important mentoring conversation with 36 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: a direct report. For relationships, your priority might be planning 37 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:54,160 Speaker 1: a family camping trip for this summer. The planning may 38 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 1: not feel fulfilling right away, but when you are thoughtful 39 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:01,800 Speaker 1: now about how you can build closeness, have fun, and 40 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 1: make memories on your trip, you set yourself up for 41 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 1: a really fulfilling experience as for self, may be seeing 42 00:03:11,600 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 1: an interesting art exhibit, finally talking with your doctor about 43 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:19,160 Speaker 1: an issue that's been worrying you, or spending a morning 44 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:21,640 Speaker 1: at a coffee shop setting intentions for the season. 45 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 2: Could all be fulfilling. These would not be just one 46 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:31,520 Speaker 2: more scheduled commitment filling up your days. In addition to 47 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 2: planning meaningful experiences, another key to making your time fulfilling 48 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:42,480 Speaker 2: is to be present for these experiences. That art exhibit 49 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 2: might not be fulfilling if the whole time you are 50 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 2: preoccupied with a work project. So pause ahead of time, 51 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 2: take a couple of deep breaths, and remind yourself why 52 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 2: you are there. This isn't just one more thing on 53 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 2: the calendar. There's a reason for it. Then you can 54 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 2: reflect on it afterwards. Remind yourself that you are doing 55 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:17,919 Speaker 2: good things with your time. If you do this, I 56 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:19,839 Speaker 2: bet that you will be able to look back on 57 00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:24,600 Speaker 2: a week that wasn't just filled, but was also fulfilling. 58 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 2: There is no point being busy just to be busy. 59 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:35,840 Speaker 2: We want to create lives worth living in the meantime. 60 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 2: This is Laura. 61 00:04:38,720 --> 00:04:43,440 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening, and here's to making the most of 62 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 1: our time. Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast. If you've 63 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 1: got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach me at 64 00:04:57,360 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 1: Laura at Laura vandercam dot com. Before Breakfast is a 65 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:11,160 Speaker 1: production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts from iHeartMedia, please visit 66 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:15,039 Speaker 1: the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to 67 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:15,920 Speaker 1: your favorite shows.