N4L 076: "The Power of Having Fun" by Dave Crenshaw

 In his latest book, The Power of Having Fun, productivity expert Dave Crenshaw gives us permission to have fun. Seriously! According to Crenshaw, we all need to take breaks—lots of them—every day, week, month, and year. In fact, the best way to be productive is to have fun every day all year long. So, Crenshaw teaches us how to incorporate having fun into every aspect of our lives. After you listen to him, you’ll be back in the sandbox taking back your recess time! 00:15  Intro to Dave Crenshaw, author of The Power of Having Fun 01:10 Having fun helps us be more productive 02:10 Crenshaw uses “desert” and “oasis” metaphors 02:25 “Desert” = an extended period of deprivation and/or chaos (as defined by you) 03:45 Most common deserts: career and retirement 05:40 59% of people unhappy at work but push hard to retirement anyway 06:20 Taking time for an “oasis” actually helps us get to the other side 06:50 Oasis = a planned, scheduled break (as defined by you) 07:20 Taking a vacation can perpetuate the “desert” mentality 08:00 More than 600 million vacation days go unused annually 08:30 Hard work necessary for success 08:40 10% of our awake time should be “oasis” time 09:25 Prescheduled times to step away from work refreshes us 09:45 “W.I.S.H.”  - worth it someday, hopefully 10:25 Permission – the first stage of having fun (not feeling guilty) 10:45 Research shows those deprived of dopamine get worse at task 12:10 Short breaks (not a vacation) help us perform better 13:30 Clearly defined fun time (not one activity coupled with another) 14:00 If you’re traveling through the desert, is water something you earn for good behavior? 14:15 Fun is a requirement! 15:05 Playing is almost a human right 15:45 “W.I.N.” – worth it now 16:05 Discovery – tough step for adults who’ve forgotten how they like having fun 17:00 “Recess” has been stolen from us 17:10 World Health Organization (WHO) determined playing is a basic right of children 17:30 Children with recess time pay attention and have fewer behavioral problems 18:40 Children always find a way to play, have fun, and entertain themselves 20:10 Lean away from costly breaks; save those for yearly play 20:30 Oasis intervals (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly) determine time and money spent 21:25 Most of our fun should be free to very inexpensive 22:10 It’s not time management; its focus management 22:30 Massive difference between being distracted and having fun 23:10 Trap: waiting to finish everything before having fun 23:35 Oasis should be one of the first things on the schedule 24:25 How to create and honor a family oasis 25:15 Relationship deserts let them dry up and fall apart while driving toward success 26:25 Spending time in loving relationships enhances our business endeavors 26:30 If you want children to succeed in school, have fun with them 27:00 “Me” time vs. “them” time: planning family oasis time that suits the needs of others 30:00 We have far more control over our own time than we think 31:10 Discover your “ultradian rhythm” – work/activity cycle within a day (90-120 min.) 33:20 Trust that fun and play truly makes you more productive 34:10 Staying at home with children can be its own desert 34:40 Find a moment – a gap in the day – then reserve it, guard it 35:30 Anticipating the fun can help get us through the desert (a “pre-ward,” not a reward) 37:10 Recommendation: “How to Have Fun Like Children: 15 Joyful Tips” by Nan Nanton BUY The Power of Having Fun: How Meaningful Breaks Help You Get More Done Check out Dave's website! Get 15 ideas for how to have fun like children, a blog post on the “Tiny Buddha” website Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit         BUY The Power of Having Fun: How Meaningful Breaks Help You Get More Done Get 15 ideas for how to have fun like children on the “Tiny Buddha” website. Connect with us! Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube Website Special thanks… Music Credit Sound Editing Credit