Do you feel guilty about this?
Having fun should be fun, don’t you agree?
So why do so many people feel guilty taking some time off to have some fun?
Yesterday I logged a post on Facebook, through Twitter saying I was finishing touches to my thoughts for my outcomes session @ NLP Northallerton group last night.
One of my Facebook friends joked that the fact that you are on Facebook is a form of procrastination.
This really got me thinking…
Is socialising and keeping up with friends on line just a new form of procrastination or could be a great way to be more productive?
What do you think?
There is no doubt that Facebook, LinkedIn, forums and the whole host of other social networking systems, blogs and the internet in general are potentially another huge source of distraction in your life, yet I really enjoy it, while I’m a long way form perfect I do get a lot done these days and I think Facebook helps me be productive and sane!
The major principle that applies here is, are you being proactive and using these resources to enhance your day or are you just reacting to another distraction.
These resources make it very easy to be reactive and distractive, without thinking you go on to check out whether you’ve got any messages, or what people are up too – some entry or other distracts your focus onto something which triggers something else and “pretty soon” another hour’s gone as you bounce from site to site.
Now if you are happy doing this then that’s your choice but if you think you might be spending more time than you would like just bouncing around in hyperspace – what can you do about it?
If you’re like most people who begin to recognise they are wasting too much time surfing around the web, you’ll beat yourself up mentally, hit yourself with a load of “shoulds” and promise yourself you’ll not do it tomorrow – this works fine until DAMM you realise you’ve done it again!
But deciding between going cold turkey and giving up trying to stop is the “suckers” and/or choice!
There is a more useful way?
And you could start by asking how I could get the stuff I want to get done AND plan in some fun/relaxation time too!
Planning in fun and relaxation as important parts of your day is one of the key “secrets” of people who live productive happy lives.
One of the most common mistakes I come across are people who belief they have to put in long hours so that they can be happy sometime in the future!
I’ll be happy when…
People who put off happiness in order to pursue some goal are kind of missing the point that goals are only milestones on the journey though life – Success is a process not a destination.
If you want to be productive and happy then one great tip is to plan in fun and relaxation on a daily basis.
Following Eben Pagan’s advice I’ve found that I work best in short 50 minute slots of focused effort – followed by a mixture of short 10 & 30 minute breaks where I do something completely different ranging from Facebook, phoning friends to bike rides etc.
In addition to these regular short breaks I’ve taken to planning in social events and fun into my calendar first and planning work etc. around that.
I’m way off perfecting it, but I can tell you it’s already made a huge difference to both my productivity and my sense of relaxation, fun and connection.
If you’re someone who enjoys using Facebook and catching up with emails etc. but you want to get more stuff done too then why not begin to plan in these sessions as part of the relaxation and fun in your day and fit work around them, if my experience and that of my friends and clients is anything to go by – you might just find that planning in fun causes you to get even more work done on your commitments and goals and be happier and more relaxed into the bargain.
Two questions for you:
- 1. What have you been putting off?
- 2. What could you to choose to do today that you’d really enjoy?
Maybe you’d like to try this:
- Ask yourself what specific action could I take right now to move this forward? Set your timer for 30 minutes and then get stuck in.
- When the timer goes, stop what you’re doing and go and do the thing you’d really enjoy!
That’s it – sounds simple? Give it a go and see how it feels, I think you’ll be surprised.
…and where did that old “guilt” go, that’s right it disappeared ;o)
Oh and if you’re wondering how I avoid getting drawn in and losing an hour flitting around the internet on these short breaks – I use the chicken!
Nothing beats a chicken to keep you on track
(But to be honest the chicken’s back in the kitchen and I’ve upgraded to a silver egg - £4.99 from Tesco) Bargain :o).
Have fun,
Anth.
PS: If you haven’t already and you’d like to check me out, see my photos and be my “Facebook Buddy” you can do so here: http://en-gb.facebook.com/people/Anth-Quinn/574238899
January 29th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
So the chicken really DID come before the egg! I am so frustrated with this right now. Not only do I attempt to answer my emails, I get interrupted while doing this by fellow employees or phone calls. And I find the same problem at home. It is very difficult to fold laundry or accomplish anything else while handling emails…or talking on the phone. I have 3 people that call me throughout the day and want to talk with me for 1/2 - 1 hour each. They are either driving or retired or don’t have anything to do at the moment. Unfortunately, I don’t have 3 hours a day to just sit on the phone and chat about what I did that day (which is NOTHING, seeing as I’ve been on the phone with them or handling emails). I like the chicken idea…I’m going home and going to find mine and carry it with me! Work, home, everywhere! I have changed the times of day that I talk with these 3 people to fit my schedule and have found this to work much better. As for emails…I think sometimes curiousity gets the better of us and we read the “trash” that comes in rather than filing it immediately in 13 - and then we also get sucked into buying new fangled doo-dads that end up taking up space in our basement…and then you have to clean it out 10 years later….it’s just a vicious cycle! I would love to have no computer, phone, television or magazines for 10 years…my life would be MY LIFE again! Maybe…? Thanks for listening.
February 6th, 2009 at 11:52 pm
Why are so many people preoccupied with someone else’s definition of themselves? It ’s a wonderful experience recognizing that there is no one else like me in the entire universe…
…and as so simply put in Angie Stones song “I’m so happy being me”!