For the fourth consecutive year, having fun is priority #1 on Americans' "to do" list. Eighty-three percent of Americans say they need to get more pleasure out of life, but their lives have become too busy to have as much fun as they'd like.
Many Americans have achieved great success - bigger homes, more money and disposable income, more accumulation of "toys." Despite those achievements, their gains in the fun category don't measure up. What they say they're losing is connecting with family and friends, pursuing personal interests, and just relaxing.
The solution? We need more time to have fun. Since 24 hours per day is non-negotiable, many people are taking steps toward simplification to recapture time for fun: 80 percent say they are looking for ways to simplify their lives. Americans have identified several areas as time-eaters - fun-robbers - and found ways to begin to streamline. Here is their advice:
- Shopping. Spend less time doing it. We spend an average of six hours per week shopping. Use time-saving catalogs to reduce hours spent in malls. Shop on-line for books, music, clothing, tickets and more. If you must shop in person, better planning allows you to cluster errands and accomplish more in a single trip.
- Rent before you buy. Possessions like boats, cabins, second homes, water toys and the like contribute to having fun, but may be too "time expensive." Renting or leasing allows you to see how much time is involved in upkeep, storage and maintenance. If the upkeep doesn't balance the fun it provides, rent it and you won't have to take care of it when not in use.
- Money management. Take advantage of time-savers such as direct deposit or automatic bill payment. Managing investments and savings can also be time-consuming. A safe, easy and smart way to save without sacrificing a good return is an indexed money market account. For example, U.S. Bank offers an Indexed Money Market account that's as easy to use as a traditional savings account but pays a higher rate of interest - comparable to a money market mutual fund. U.S. Bank's Indexed Money Market account is also FDIC insured and provides 24-hour access to funds. These accounts are gaining in popularity as a savings choice that is easy to use and manage, while offering a higher rate of return.
- Turn off your job. That is, when you're home. Your job can be a major leisure time-eater. Leave one emergency-only contact line open and rely on it instead of carrying a cell phone, pager and checking voicemail frequently. Learn to turn your job on only when you want it, not when it beckons you. By taking a break from your job, you will be more refreshed and more productive when working.
- Volunteering. Learn not to say yes to everything. Next time you're asked to volunteer for something at work or in your personal life, think hard before you respond. Volunteerism is important, so choose that special service project that fulfills you and - perhaps - allows you to have some fun at the same time.
- Kids' activities. More activities are not necessarily better. A full schedule can be draining for children, and constant chauffeuring can be draining for adults. Prioritize activities with your kids and set limits. Carefully weigh all the elements to find a balance between extracurricular activities, family life, and fairness to all - including yourself. It's difficult to focus on more family fun if members aren't home.
We can make more time for fun by following the lead of others and streamlining time-consuming areas of our lives to yield extra hours - hours we can spend on activities we enjoy.
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