Planning to have fun

For K – who likes me to cut to the chase and be practical!

One of the things I’ve found most useful in building good feelings is planning ahead to have good times. I know this sounds a bit anal (as a friend once told me ‘think of the first four letters of the word analytical Kaye – that describes your personality’.) ‘Planning to have fun? Shouldn’t you just have fun, like…spontaneously? Dude?’

I’ve found it’s easier to have fun if I plan activities I'll probably enjoy. If I don’t plan one of two things can happen:

1. I take on too much and get exhausted and stressed, or
2. I plan too little and get bored, lonely and depressed.

Experience tells me the things I’m most likely to enjoy. Almost any social activity will probably boost my mood, although I’m not a huge sports fan. I have been known to appreciate a good game of netball or even the All Blacks when they pass the ball and don’t constantly drop it and jump on top of each other. But I’d rather go to a writing group or church, spend time with friends, take the dog for a walk or romp with a friend who has dogs (the dog romps – I sit sedately on the sofa), or go to a café.

On my own I like to do things like write, find pictures for my blog, talk on the phone, read, listen to music, go to the library, google stuff, cook or watch a funny DVD. I also like to go for drives through places of natural beauty – that almost always makes me feel good.

A good week for me will include social time and alone time, chores and things I like doing. I try to make Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays time to do admin work, finances, rest, stay at home and write. Wednesday is my ‘day off’ when I tend to end up going to appointments, library, vet etc.
Weekends really are time off. This Saturday I’ll spend at home, writing, resting, and cooking. I’ll visit the library and DVD shop if I’m up to it. Sunday I’ll head to Tauranga to visit my Mum, take Barney barndog to the beach and have coffee with my friend. It'll be fun - I can’t wait!