A Time to Open Your Packages

Do you feel joy when you get mail? I do. Do you order things online rather than going to the store just so that you can have mail to open? I do.

This time of year is always very busy in the dance world her in the Midwest as we have competitions and recitals happening. My studio is off to our 4th competition of the season this weekend before we have our annual recital next weekend. This will be our 3rd competition weekend in a row. I have been so busy the packages in the photo sat in my apartment for 5 days before I had time to open them. Unless I am on my way somewhere and running late, I always open my packages as soon as I get them. Letting them sit for 5 days was odd for me.

I know I am not the only one that gets too busy to do the things I enjoy doing no matter how big or small the things we enjoy are. What are we supposed to do about it? Here is what I did.

I made sure to get my packages inside my apartment instead of letting them sit in the mail box area inside the apartment hallway that I share with everyone in my building. No one normally steals any of my packages, but I didn’t want to risk it. Next I put the packages in a spot that I would see them, but not risk tripping over them, spilling on them or forgetting about them. I left to attend the dance competition that was out of town, and came back with my suitcase and bags that also needed to be unpacked. It was too late at night when I got home so I went to bed before unpacking anything. I woke up, showered, and got to work on time. Worked most of the day, came home to unpack my bags and open my packages (finally) and then went to the studio for class.

I followed a few Lazy Genius principles by ‘naming what matters,’ ‘essentialize,’ and ‘go in the right order.’ Getting to where I needed to go for work was important. Sleep was important. Getting my packages inside and in a good spot was important. I was not worried or nervous about what was in the packages because I knew that would not change if I got the wrong items, or if it was damaged. I would be able to fix it or ask for my money back later if that was the case. I knew that I need to stay well and not get sick which is why sleep came first when I got home. I did not order anything that I desperately needed for the weekend, so it would not be a big deal to wait.

Perhaps as I am writing about finally getting around to opening my packages you are thinking about something you have set aside or too busy to get to at some point yourself. Some of us do well with scheduling time to do these specific things so that we know we will be able to get to them. Some of us have piles of projects that we are waiting to get to when we are less busy. (I have a room full of piles of things to get to eventually.) Whatever your style is for getting things done, make a path to getting to the things you enjoy. Do the most with the time you have in this season in your life.

When you make a point to do more of the things you enjoy, you will find more joy in your day to day life.

The less time you spend doing things you enjoy, the less joy you will see in your life.

The choice of how to spend your time is up to you. – Some of you have people who depend on you whom you are taking care, too whether it be children or parents or grandparents. The people who depend on you want to see you joyful. It good to make sure they are having joy, but they will have more joy if you also have joy.

We find joy by doing what we enjoy. — It sounds simple. It may take time to get into better habits. Joy is in the future in heaven, but we can have joy while we are still here on Earth, too.

Heavenly joy will not need to be scheduled.