Skinny Dip Or To-Do List?

“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.”
— E. B. White

So, I was fluttering about in our Airbnb pool basking in the sparkling warm water, the gentle flow of the fountain, and the plaintive coos of the mourning doves.  A moment of utter relaxation and peace, tempting me to melt into the water. 

Suddenly, brain niggles interrupted my zone of peace and wouldn’t wiggle away.  I was confronted with the idea that I needed to go inside, sit down at my computer, and resume research for our next house. 

What a conundrum!  My to-do list vs. the embryonic water and sun.

So, when does one do what feels good and when does one do the “need to”?  Here are a couple of tricks I’ve used in the past….

• Do the hard stuff first and get it out of the way
• Make an agreement with yourself for the day: Set a time limit for your work time and time limit for your play time BEFORE you begin the day
• Give yourself permission to relish playtime and give yourself credit for chipping away at your to-do list

Think about this….If all you did was play, would you still enjoy and appreciate it?  Would your life feel empty?  Would you get bored?  Does this feel like a life of meaning?

My choice in that moment….I hung out in the water for a few more moments and then headed inside for work on the computer.   It helped that I also had lunch waiting for me!

I’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions.  Please send me an email at info@sandboxology.com.