1
00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:10,160
Speaker 1: Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good Morning,

2
00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:15,480
Speaker 1: This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's

3
00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:18,840
Speaker 1: tip is about one efficient way to add happiness into

4
00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:24,360
Speaker 1: your life. Become a regular somewhere, ideally with good company.

5
00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:28,240
Speaker 1: In a recent episode, we talked about adding more serendipity

6
00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:32,600
Speaker 1: into our daily schedules. This can require new inputs, but

7
00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:36,680
Speaker 1: sometimes we can boost happiness by doubling down on existing

8
00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:40,360
Speaker 1: inputs and going all in to make these a regular

9
00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:44,159
Speaker 1: part of our lives. People my age and older no

10
00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,800
Speaker 1: doubt remember the theme song from the TV show Cheers.

11
00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:52,000
Speaker 1: Cheers was a place where everybody knows your name and

12
00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:56,000
Speaker 1: they're always glad you came. It's certainly an appealing concept

13
00:00:56,080 --> 00:01:01,280
Speaker 1: and one reason some surveys show increased loneliness that isolated

14
00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:03,920
Speaker 1: with our cell phones, we spend less time going to

15
00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,080
Speaker 1: local watering holes or other places we can become part

16
00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:12,960
Speaker 1: of a community, houses of worship, civic organizations, even organized

17
00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:17,480
Speaker 1: playgroups for kids where parents can commiserate together. We know

18
00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:20,800
Speaker 1: that social ties tend to make people happier, but when

19
00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,479
Speaker 1: people are busy, arranging specific times to get together can

20
00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,520
Speaker 1: feel like a ton of work. When you always go

21
00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:31,720
Speaker 1: somewhere at a particular time, though, and other people do too.

22
00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:34,959
Speaker 1: You don't have to do the planning and scheduling. You

23
00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:38,960
Speaker 1: get the relationships without the hassle. And by the way,

24
00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:42,640
Speaker 1: these relationships don't have to be deep, soulful sorts of things.

25
00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:46,360
Speaker 1: Most people will, in fact feel happier when the local

26
00:01:46,400 --> 00:01:50,440
Speaker 1: postal clerk addresses you by name and asks about your family.

27
00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:53,320
Speaker 1: As with all things in life, there has to be

28
00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:56,559
Speaker 1: a balance. You can become a regular at a grocery store,

29
00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:58,920
Speaker 1: but maybe you're in a stage of life we're getting

30
00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:03,480
Speaker 1: groceries delivered makes more sense. Too much sameness and routine

31
00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,320
Speaker 1: can be a problem too, so I prefer to look

32
00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:09,560
Speaker 1: at opportunities to become a regular somewhere that would happen

33
00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:14,240
Speaker 1: about once a week or so, rather than daily. Fortunately,

34
00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,480
Speaker 1: there are lots of opportunities for this. As I look

35
00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:20,440
Speaker 1: at my life, I can see a few places where

36
00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:23,800
Speaker 1: I might become a regular. Most days I make my

37
00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:26,840
Speaker 1: own coffee, but I pop by my neighborhood coffee shop

38
00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,600
Speaker 1: when I'm in the mood for a cappuccino. There are

39
00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:33,040
Speaker 1: two casual restaurants in my area where I've realized after

40
00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,560
Speaker 1: a lot of experimentation that everyone in my family will

41
00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,480
Speaker 1: be happy. So when my family is going out to dinner,

42
00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:43,120
Speaker 1: we go to those two places. Over time, you get

43
00:02:43,120 --> 00:02:47,040
Speaker 1: to know individual waiters and specials. Same for the nice

44
00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:51,240
Speaker 1: adult focused restaurant downtown where my husband and I make reservations.

45
00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:54,239
Speaker 1: When we plan to entertain people, it's nice to know

46
00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:59,120
Speaker 1: exactly where to park our guests introduce the novelty. We

47
00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:02,160
Speaker 1: know the venue will be good. Maybe you've got some

48
00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,359
Speaker 1: places like this too, or other things you do semi

49
00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:09,400
Speaker 1: regularly in life. There's a particular teacher at your gym

50
00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:11,440
Speaker 1: that you always enjoy when you manage to get there,

51
00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:14,120
Speaker 1: or there's a lunch spot in your work that you

52
00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:18,240
Speaker 1: always like when you go. To become a regular, and

53
00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:20,800
Speaker 1: to get the most out of this experience, do a

54
00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:25,640
Speaker 1: few things. First, look at your schedule and see if

55
00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:29,440
Speaker 1: you could build visiting this place into your life consistently.

56
00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:33,360
Speaker 1: The exercise teacher might teach on three different days, and

57
00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,960
Speaker 1: sometimes each of these is a possibility, but Tuesday nights

58
00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,160
Speaker 1: tend to work the best. Could you commit to going

59
00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:44,200
Speaker 1: the vast majority of Tuesday nights? I mean, there's always

60
00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:46,880
Speaker 1: a reason one week here and there, won't work. But

61
00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,880
Speaker 1: what if you started telling yourself that Tuesday is Pilate's night.

62
00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:55,200
Speaker 1: You'd start constructing your life to make it possible, and

63
00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:57,840
Speaker 1: you also wouldn't have to think about it. At least

64
00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:00,240
Speaker 1: one day a week, you'd know exactly what you do

65
00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:04,880
Speaker 1: for exercise. That's a great outcome, But to truly get

66
00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:08,040
Speaker 1: the most out of being a regular, don't stop there.

67
00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:11,960
Speaker 1: You can invite other people to join you. It can

68
00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,720
Speaker 1: be casual you tell a friend about your great Tuesday

69
00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:18,799
Speaker 1: night exercise class, or it can be more formal. Maybe

70
00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:21,320
Speaker 1: you commit to taking a different direct report out to

71
00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:25,520
Speaker 1: lunch at your favorite place every Monday. You can rotate through,

72
00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:29,920
Speaker 1: but you get to know the restaurant and you build relationships.

73
00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:32,960
Speaker 1: And of course, once you've decided to become a regular,

74
00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:35,440
Speaker 1: you can pay more attention to the people who are

75
00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:38,440
Speaker 1: already there. At the restaurant, you get to know the

76
00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:41,599
Speaker 1: hostess and the weight staff. Maybe at a bar, as

77
00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:44,760
Speaker 1: with Cheers, you've got your own favorite bartender who you

78
00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:48,240
Speaker 1: can chat with. You notice someone else comes most Tuesday

79
00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:52,000
Speaker 1: nights to the same exercise class. Since you've committed to coming,

80
00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,760
Speaker 1: you know it's worth introducing yourself and building at least

81
00:04:55,760 --> 00:05:00,040
Speaker 1: a casual friendship. You might not become terribly entwined with

82
00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,719
Speaker 1: each other's lives, but it's nice that when you're out

83
00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:07,279
Speaker 1: sick for a week, someone notices and says, we missed

84
00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:10,799
Speaker 1: you when you come back. So look at your life.

85
00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:14,440
Speaker 1: Where could you become a regular? When could you make

86
00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,919
Speaker 1: that happen? Who could join you? Or who would you

87
00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:21,400
Speaker 1: like to meet? Answering these questions can bring a lot

88
00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:25,400
Speaker 1: of happiness to your life. In the meantime, This is Laura.

89
00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:28,640
Speaker 1: Thanks for listening, and here's to making the most of

90
00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:38,080
Speaker 1: our time. Hey, everybody, I'd love to hear from you.

91
00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:41,000
Speaker 1: You can send me your tips, your questions, or anything else.

92
00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:45,320
Speaker 1: Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at

93
00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:51,760
Speaker 1: Before Breakfast Pod. That's b the number four then Breakfast pod.

94
00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,520
Speaker 1: You can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast

95
00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:59,479
Speaker 1: podcast at iHeartMedia dot com that before Breakfast is spelled

96
00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:01,960
Speaker 1: out with all the letters. Thanks so much, should I

97
00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:10,040
Speaker 1: look forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast is a

98
00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:14,839
Speaker 1: production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the

99
00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:18,640
Speaker 1: iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your

100
00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:21,800
Speaker 1: favorite shows.