Enjoying Life More

When was the last time you did something just because it sounded like fun?

Not because it needed to be done. Not because it was on your list. Not because someone was expecting you to do it. Just because you thought, “I'd enjoy that.”

It's surprisingly easy for life to settle into a routine.

We get up around the same time. Eat the same breakfast. Run the same errands. Watch the same television programs. Go to the same places. See many of the same people. There's nothing necessarily wrong with any of that. Familiar routines can be comfortable.

But every once in a while, it's good to shake things up a little.

That's what Enjoying Life More is all about.

Maybe there's a little restaurant you've driven past a hundred times but have never tried. A museum you've always wondered about. A concert in the park. A farmers market in a neighboring town. A scenic drive you've haven't taken in years. A community event you've seen advertised but never attended.

Or maybe it's something even simpler.

Go out for breakfast on a Tuesday morning. Pack a lunch and eat it by the lake. Take a drive to see the fall colors. Visit a greenhouse in the spring. Go watch a high school baseball game even if you don't know anyone playing. Stop for ice cream on the way home just because you can.

Not everything you do has to have a purpose.

Sometimes enjoying yourself is reason enough.

And you don't have to wait for someone else to plan something for you. Invite a friend. Ask a neighbor. Call one of your children or grandchildren and say, “I've been thinking it might be fun to…”

You may be surprised how quickly someone says yes.

There may also be things you used to enjoy that gradually disappeared from your life. Fishing. Dancing. Going to plays. Sunday drives. Attending ball games. Visiting antique stores. Exploring little towns. Going to the county fair.

Maybe you couldn't do some of them exactly the way you once did. But perhaps there's another way to enjoy them.

As you explore this section, we're going to give you lots of possibilities. Some will sound interesting. Some probably won't. And every once in a while, we hope you'll come across one that makes you stop and think:

“You know, that actually sounds like fun.”

When that happens, don't just keep scrolling. See where the idea takes you.

Because life isn't only about taking care of the things that need to be done.

There should still be plenty of things you simply can't wait to do.

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Getting Out and Doing Something
Sometimes the hardest part is simply deciding to go.

Explore easy reasons to get out of the house—a local event, lunch somewhere different, a community gathering, a ball game, a concert, a farmers market, or anything else that sounds like it might make the day more interesting.

Taking a Little Day Trip
You don't have to travel hundreds of miles to feel like you've gotten away.

Discover interesting places within an easy drive—small towns, museums, parks, historic sites, scenic roads, restaurants, gardens, shops, and other destinations that can turn an ordinary day into a little adventure.

Rediscovering Things You Used to Enjoy
Some of the things you once loved doing may still have a place in your life—they might just look a little different today.

Think back to fishing trips, dances, fairs, sporting events, Sunday drives, concerts, gardening, or other things you once looked forward to, and explore new ways to enjoy them again.

Enjoying the Seasons
Every season brings its own reasons to get out and enjoy what's happening around you.

Explore spring gardens, summer concerts, county fairs, fall colors, holiday lights, winter gatherings, seasonal foods, festivals, and simple traditions that give you something different to look forward to throughout the year.

Trying Somewhere New
How many places have you driven past and thought, “Someday I should stop there”?

Try the little restaurant you've never visited. Explore a nearby town. Visit a museum you've always wondered about. Take a different road home. Sometimes a new favorite place is waiting surprisingly close by.

Doing Something Just for Fun
Not everything has to be useful, productive, or checked off a list.

Go for ice cream. See a movie in the afternoon. Play miniature golf. Attend a comedy show. Feed the ducks. Take a train ride. Sit by the lake. Do something a little silly if it makes you laugh. Sometimes having fun is reason enough.

Finding Someone to Go With You

A good experience can be even better when there's someone beside you enjoying it too.

Invite a friend, neighbor, sibling, grandchild, or someone you haven't seen for a while. Instead of saying, “We should get together sometime,” pick something that sounds fun and turn sometime into an actual day.

Putting Something on the Calendar
Having something to look forward to can make the days leading up to it more enjoyable too.

Choose one thing you'd like to do—a lunch, outing, concert, drive, visit, game, or little adventure—and put it on the calendar. Then, when that's over, find another. Life feels different when there's something ahead you're looking forward to.