Put a Little More Fun on Your Fall Calendar
September has a way of getting us back on schedule. Summer vacations wind down, schools are back in session, meetings return to the calendar, and routines that relaxed a little during June, July and August suddenly reappear. Before long, our calendars are once again filled with appointments, errands, deadlines and obligations.
Amid all that scheduling, there’s one thing we sometimes forget to put on the calendar: FUN!
Adults can become surprisingly good at treating fun as something that happens only after everything else is finished. Yes I’m guilty! The problem, of course, is that everything else is rarely finished. There is always another email to answer, errand to run, room to clean or item waiting on the to-do list.
Try making fun a slightly higher priority this fall. No need for elaborate vacations, expensive tickets or weeks of planning. Some of the best moments in life are remarkably ordinary.
So, in honor of a new season, here are suggestions for your September Bucket List:
Watch a sunset without doing anything else at the same time.
Visit a park or neighborhood you've never explored.
Eat something that could reasonably be described as “too much apple.”
Play a board game, card game or backyard game you haven't played in years.
Attend a local festival, concert, or football game.
Enjoy your morning coffee—or evening dinner—outside on the first wonderfully cool day.
Try a new restaurant, recipe or dessert.
Take a drive to nowhere in particular.
Do something you loved as a kid.
Get together with someone to whom you've been saying, “We really need to get together,”.
Of course, you can make your own list. The point isn't to complete every item or turn having fun into yet another achievement to check off the list. The point is simply to leave a little room for enjoyment.
September is a season of changing routines and changing weather. It's a natural time to reset calendars. As you add the meetings, appointments and responsibilities that come with a busy fall, consider reserving a little time for the people and things that bring you joy and add a little fun to your life.
Karen Schuster, CEO