Infusing fun into your daily life

I've been doing some serious thinking about fun. It seems to me that, in the long run, whatever makes you happy will make you healthy. On the many days when it is not possible to take a One Day Vacation, I intentionally find ways to sprinkle fun into my day. Here are some initial thoughts on Everyday Fun:

Pick A Friend - I will often pick one friend to focus on for the day. If its one of those crazy days where I don't even have time to make a call, I think about how long we've known each other, what we've laughed about, and I send good thoughts to that friend throughout the day. I usually find that within the week, that friend has gotten in touch with me. I believe that this One Friend A Day focus helps to strengthen our connection. I know it makes me feel better just to think about that friend. (Exhibit A: This photo of Kelly, on right, and I. We have lots of fun times for me to reminisce about.)

Set an end time - Do you have that "To Do" list in your head that could keep you running all day and still never be completed? On my funnest days, I declare an end time for that list. By telling myself that I will stop at 7:00 pm no matter how much or how little progress I've made, I have more energy through the day and I enjoy the evening off. After 7:00, I don't pressure myself to be productive or useful in any way. Talk about fun!

Select a Soundtrack - There's nothing like a good tune to lift your spirits even in the worst traffic. On my way out the door each day, I pick a few CDs that contain my anthems for the day. Nobody needs to know that you still listen to Billy Squier:)