Work Will Never Be Done—And That’s Exactly Why You Need to Have Fun Today
Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash
How many hours a week do you spend doing things that simply bring you joy?
Is the answer “not enough” or even “none”?
Look, I know that not all of your time can be spent on the fun stuff.
But it shouldn’t all be spent on the drudgery either.
You might be thinking:
“Well, I’ll get to the fun stuff when I’m done with the work.”
And I hate to break it to you, but that day is never coming.
Because if you wait to prioritize the fun stuff until you’re done with the work, you’ll never, ever, get to the fun stuff.
Because there will always be more work.
You, me and everyone else? We could all work 18 hours a day for the rest of our lives, and there would still be more work.
The work keeps coming.
The emails never stop.
The laundry and dishes are never finished.
And that’s ok.
In fact, it has to be ok, because that’s life. That’s not something you can change.
But what you can do is accept that fact.
And make the time to do things you enjoy, even if the work isn’t done.
I bet you’ve said to yourself at least once (or maybe on the daily!):
“I’d read that book (or taking up painting, or watch that movie, etc.) when I find the time.”
But here’s the thing:
You won’t “find the time” either.
That’s not how time works.
Instead, you have to make the time.
And that feels hard.
That IS hard.
And it’s also the ONLY way to make it happen.
A long time ago, I had a coaching client who said something to me that I’ve kept in my mind ever since because not only did I agree wholeheartedly, but she’d said it so succinctly.
She said:
“No one will set boundaries for you; but most people will respect boundaries you set for yourself.”
So, when you think about your time and your never-ending workload, I want you to remember that you have agency.
Yes, you could work until 11pm every night until you literally can’t keep your eyes open.
Or, you could set a stopping time for yourself.
You could set a boundary.
And you could choose to do something that brings you joy, even though (and perhaps especially because) the work isn’t done.
And so I want to issue you a challenge, if you’re willing to accept.
This week, I want you to do something fun that you “don’t have time for”:
Read a chapter of that book you’ve been pining over
Watch an episode of your favorite TV show (without multitasking your email)
Go out to dinner with a friend
Take your kid out for ice cream, just because
Sign up for a class
Just do something, anything, that brings you joy and makes you feel that you have choices with your time.
And then revel in the fact that, yes, you can enjoy yourself, even when the work isn’t done.
And then next week, do it again.
