Loving Life Despite Being Busy

How often are you asked, "how are you doing" and you answer, "so busy lately" or "things have been crazy" or "hanging in there"? These answers may very well be true. You may be going through a particularly busy or complicated time in your life. But this shouldn't be the norm. You can't always be so busy that you are exhausted, unable to think straight, and not enjoying precious moments with loved ones. If being incredibly busy isn't just a temporary thing for you, you need to take a step back and reevaluate what you are spending your time on and adjust from there. Either way, you have to find ways to still love life while you get through this busy season.

One simple way to do this is to think about adding moments of play into your life.

Someone I follow on Instagram recently said something along the lines of "why do only children need recess?" They don't need a break from the stress of working, raising children, paying bills, taking care of sick loved ones, scheduling appointments, etc. and yet they are required to have recess every day at school. While they do need a break from class and to help physically burn some energy, it's also a designated time for them to have a mental break from what they had just been spending hours on and to have some fun! Recess gives them time to do what they like with others. Don't adults need this as much as children, if not even more?

Imagine what life would be like if adults still had time every day to play! People would be less stressed, they would release more endorphins and lower cortisol, they would continuously be reminded about the joy and wonder this world offers, they would be kinder to each other, etc. They would enjoy life more. They might even be more productive when it is time to get back to their work or their to-do list because they just gained a burst of energy and refreshed their bodies and minds. Adults would be rejuvenated.

But how do you spend time every day playing when there is so much to do?

You can schedule it as if it was a doctor's appointment and make it a non-negotiable, or you can take small moments and turn them into play time. Here are some examples:

• Putting on music to dance with your partner or kids as you wait for water to boil for dinner, or by yourself while you wait for your coffee to be ready in the morning

• Skip to your car instead of walking

• Try a cartwheel (safely) even if you haven't done it in years

• Play cards with your family while eating dinner and talking instead of watching tv (if you don't finish the game during dinner, keep the scores going for the next night)

• While switching between tasks, set a timer on your phone for 3 minutes and draw something completely random...whatever comes to your mind first

• Do 20 jumping jacks while you take a bathroom break

• Create a new homemade enrichment item for your pet (lots of how-to's online) and watch them play with it

• Plan a family field game night with your neighbors (think water balloon toss, kickball, frisbee, etc.)

• Keep Playdough in your desk drawer and use it make something creative while you are reading a boring article that might make you sleepy

• Sing into the broom/mop as you clean your house...make it fun!

There are a lot of ideas for creating fun in your life, and once you start thinking of them, the ideas will start flowing to you even easier! Adding small moments of fun into your day, especially if you share them with people you love, will bring so much more enjoyment and purpose into your busy life. It'll keep you going on the days that you have so much to do that your mind is spinning. Give yourself a recess from that craziness (even 20 seconds to do jumping jacks, for example) and you'll be able to go back to your work with a clearer head and a better attitude about it, which will make it easier to do faster. Kids aren't the only ones who need/deserve a break from the day-to-day! Life is too short, fast, and busy to not have moments of fun.

If you enjoy these tips, follow me on Instagram or join the free Facebook group for more ways to reduce stress and enjoy life while you are busy.