Quality Leisure

It is as important to plan for quality use of our leisure time as it is any other time. Relationships are an important part of our happiness, and an easy way to plan shared activities is to make what I call the Don’t Wait-Relate Pick a Stick.

If you have trouble thinking of ideas, the best list of activities I’ve ever seen was in a book called “The Superwoman Syndrome” by Marjorie and Morton Shaevitz (no longer in print). Here is the list on the DailyPlanIt Wiki, which can be printed with a button on the lower right. See more ideas at Choose the Best Recreational Activities. Online, you could try DiscoverFun for ideas.

Directions:
1. List activities you enjoy doing with friends or family: Five outside activities that are free, and five that cost money. You can also list: top five sports or yard games and favorite places to go, five inside activities that are free, and five that cost money. Also list: top five favorite game and restaurants.
2. Write activities on popsicle sticks with black markers.
3. Mark the popsicle sticks to indicate the different types of activities with colored markers or washi tape. Add colors: Green + Blue to indicate those that are outside & free, Green + Yellow those that are outside and not free. Red + Blue to indicate those that are inside & free, Red + Yellow those that are inside & not free.
4. Place the popsicle sticks in four containers, marked with colors and/or symbols to match the activities. Outdoors: a blue dot or the Earth, Indoors: a white dot or a snowflake, Free: a blue dot or a flower, Not Free: a yellow dot or a coin. Containers: use empty Crystal Light lemonade drink mix containers, Oui yogurt jars, pillow gift boxes or gift card holders.
5. Pick a stick when you have time to do something fun!

Here is another helpful exercise:

• List ten or more activities you enjoy or would like to try.
• By each one, note if it requires money, can be done alone or with others, is indoors or outdoors, active or passive.
• Rank them in order from most to least enjoyment. You may end up with some that are more interests rather than passions.

Download a free printable RecreationalActivities form

About dailyplanit

I seek to create order from the chaos of complex information. Join me at the Daily PlanIt to gain insights, inspiration, and information to increase skills for a better life. I unlock the power of teaching reading with phonics in the pursuit of literacy at www.phonicspow.com. In my spare time I explore books and movies, often choosing titles available on both screen and page.