Don't Forget to Play

I remember my 3rd Grade Teacher, Mrs. Tavares, saying "first we work hard, then we can play hard". I'm really good at the first part. How about you? I work so hard that there doesn't seem to be any time left to play.  When was the last time you did something for the pure pleasure of it?

I have a Life Coach,  Ley-Ann.  She helps me to be my best self. She pointed out that my schedule had way too many tasks on it. She told me to lighten up a little after seeing my scheduled morning routine.  Here it is below.  What do you think?

05:00 a.m. - 09:00 a.m.

• Exercise 45-60 minutes
• Meditation and prayers 30 minutes
• 30 minutes of daily inspiration (I listen to the Daily Fire, on my GrowthDay App by Brendon Burchard)
• Journal, plan my day
• Spend time looking at my vision boards
• Create something inspirational -  Monday Morning Meditation, F word Friday or a blog post
• Shower
• Eat Breakfast

Too much? I really felt like I was following the guidance I had gleaned from being coached, from all the many self development books and podcasts I've listened to, and the many courses I've taken.  But I wasn't paying attention to how I was feeling about what I was doing. 
I have been hell bent on getting that morning routine done. The bulk of the rest of the day is spent  learning new technology to grow my business, taking courses, listening to podcasts, creating meaningful content to share.  My session with Ley-Ann helped me to realize, I forgot to include play in my day, and the main reason I retired early was to get out of the rat race, so I could enjoy my life. I didn't realize I created another rat race!!

So this past week, I focused more on enjoying my day.  My 2 top priorities for the morning is to exercise and meditate. I released myself from getting everything done.  I focused more on how I was feeling. There are literally hundreds of videos, classes and podcasts I want to watch.  Tony Robbins did a Time to Thrive 5 day challenge this past week that I felt obligated to watch, largely due to the FOMO effect used in advertising (the fear of missing out).  When I asked myself if watching it was a priority, the answer was no.  That was so freeing!!! I focused on prioritizing what I wanted to get done each day, and paid attention to my happiness gauge. If I was feeling overwhelmed or stressed out, I took a few minutes to look at why, then asked myself what I needed.  It's so easy to listen to outside voices telling you what's best for you. Really, the best thing is to let your gut be your guide. 

I am responsible for my happiness. I'm in charge of my life. I'm in charge of my own schedule.
I took time to play this weekend.  It was so fun!  I sewed some very cute bowl cozzies (basically hot pads for your bowls - you put your bowl of food in it, then in the microwave so you don't burn your fingers). I spent some time organizing a FEW things. The organizing wasn't that fun, but the END PRODUCT was! I watched  Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore with my husband - it was awesome!  We went for an hour long bike ride to Kailua Beach and then did the Lanikai loop - fantastic!  It was an incredibly beautiful day here in Hawaii nei, and it felt SO GOOD being out in it.

Here are my takeaways (aka Mai recipe for delicious living):

• Work hard, play just as hard
• Prioritize - what's most important?
• Be mindful of your happiness gauge - how are you feeling?
• If it doesn't feel good, that's guidance - go with your gut
• You are responsible for your own happiness, your own life, your own results
• Ask for help when you need it!

As always, I hope this helps you to live an extraordinary and fulfilling life.  Please share it with your friends. Check out my YouTube Channel for my Monday Meditations and F- Word Fridays. Thank you for spending time with me at Mai Table. I love having you here!