Choose Fun!

When did things change to a point where we are overly busy? What shifted us to the mindset that we have to do more? And more still? 

In my 20s, (and 30s) I worked for a forklift dealership in the service department. But when quitting time came, once a week, every Thursday, we all gathered at a local "watering hole". It was where we all talked, and yes, we talked about work issues. But we also talked about families, sports, politics or whatever else came to mind.  We laughed and shared and enjoyed each others' company. 

But somewhere along the line, it seemed more important to "get things done" than it was to find a little time to spend with friends.  Spending time with friends seemed like a luxury. 

We've started combining chores and pleasure, rather than one or the other.  We have become unbalanced.

Most parents want their kids to have it "better" than they had it. In elementary school, I didn't have soccer, ballet and music lessons.  I only had music lessons.  My parents didn't drive me to and fro between lessons and practice for several activities. And frankly, I walked to music lessons around the block.

As a retired old gal, I thought this would be  "my time" to do things I wanted to do. But somehow, we are all caught up in an overly busy life. What shifted?

There's a lot of talk about having a balanced life. At work, we were often asked if we felt we had a good work/life balance.  But that never took into expectations into account. We go to work earlier, stay later, to get things done. And yet, there is always something else needing to be done.

We need to make better choices. We don't always have to "get everything done".  Choose the fun things over work every now and then!