Hi,
Does the 9 to 5 get you down? I've got to admit it does for me...the same old, day in and day out rigmarole can wear even the most creative soul down. And I think that's because we let the organisation of the work day filter into our personal lives. In my opinion have become so passionate about planning and over-thinking that sometimes it just all gets a bit too much to take. Our everyday lives have become dominated by how much 'sorting out' we all have to do.
We plan our days, our weekends and our holidays often down to the most minute details, but where does that leave us to have any real fun? By that, I mean spontaneity. In my eyes doing things on a whim is the epitome of fun. It reminds me of being a carefree child when planning didn't even factor into my little mind.
I think the idea of happiness is often presented by spontaneous behaviour. If you look to movies like Eat Pray Love, Yes Man and Into The Wild, spontaneous travel decisions really seem to make the characters in these films really happy, because they are truly living in the moment and going on their own adventure. Many of us look to these films with a sort of sorrowful longing, 'wishing that we could do that'...but the thing is we can, we just allow the rigmarole to get in the way of it all!
But being spontaneous is hard. This 'planning' idea has become so ingrained into our lives that how can we really just 'let go'? Could you really just turn up at the airport and pick a place on a whim? I'd personally love to do that, but I wonder if I actually could...
I mean we even let our smart phones organise our lives, when was the last time you met someone who could function without Google maps? Let me tell you, as an avid traveller and backpacker, sometimes even I panic upon arrival to a foreign city, because I realise my 3G won't work - ridiculous I know!
But in reality getting lost is all part of that travelling journey and I think by losing ourselves in new cities and new situations we can actually have a whole lot of fun. Believe me, I did a very mad trip to Chicago a few years ago - I didn't know anyone, I was solo and I arrived during a historically bad blizzard and you know what? I had an absolute ball! Because it was crazy and exciting and it made me feel alive!
So here are my top tips on how to become that little bit more spontaneous:
- Try leaving your phone at home, even just for a few hours and just switch off - go for a walk, do yoga, play with the kids! You honestly don't need it all of the time, I swear!
- Don't bother looking at this week's going out listings and just go where your feet take you for a good time
- If you don't think you can just turn up at the airport and book something, start off slowly and book a last minute trip....you will be way more excited about it than a big planned trip, I promise!
- Treat yourself to something you would normally save for birthdays and big occasions, just for the hell of it! It's an instant pick-me-up!
- Go on a road trip - anywhere you fancy, get some good tunes on and just drive! FREEDOM!
- Find some radical quotes that speak to you and revel in how they make you feel. Now do something about it.
- Go on The Art Of Non-Conformity blog and let the information sink in...now go out and be another Chris Guillebeau and live how you truly want to. The world needs more souls like him!
"Through travel I first became aware of the outside world; it was through travel that I found my own introspective way into becoming a part of it." -Eudora Welty
Spontaneity is addictive because it feels so crazy! It is mad, but I promise you it's super good for the soul. I believe in road trips, random adventures and living an energetic lifestyle because I think we're born for adventure! And the more spontaneous and mad, the better.
I think Lana Del Rey perfectly sums it all up in this video...
I am fucking crazy, but I am free!
Is that not the dream?
Love and Cadillacs Em xoxo