AUGUST 2017 AWW.COM.AU 77
imes through the day to check emails claws back
a lot of time through the day – time that can be
used for spontaneous fun.”
Fear of spontaneity often stops us from doing
omething out of the ordinary, but Danielle
says it’s possible to cope with the “can’t” voice.
“Understand that there will be a level of
anxiety or guilt initially, because you’re doing
something different,” she says. “In order to
deal with the anxiety or guilt,
remind yourself that there
will always be something you
should be doing. However, if
we want to live a life that is
meaningful, fulfilling and
purposeful, at times we need to
throw caution to the wind, check
in with our emotional self and
forget about the shoulds. Even
if it’s not always practical to
seize the day, seize a moment.
You won’t regret it.” AWWlife begins outside the
comfort zone – that’s
where the magic happens.”
The art of
spontaneity
Spontaneity isn’t just about
the big, life-changing
decisions. Simply opting to
switch up the daily routine
can have benefits too.
“I do spontaneous things
all the time because it’s
emotionally and physically invigorating,”
says Alison. “I took my kids to the movies
after school one day last week on a whim.
I hopped on a surfboard for the first time
in my forties because, why not? There
will always be housework and chores
and work, but those fun, ‘in the moment’
experiences make feel-good memories
which are so valuable.”
So, in reality, how can we embrace
spontaneity in the day-to-day?
Ironically, because many of us are so
addicted to diarising our lives, we often need to
plan spontaneity. “There’s absolutely nothing
wrong with setting aside some time free every
day or week or month,” says stress management
practitioner and time management coach Barbara
Clifford. “For example, sometimes I set an alarm
on my phone to go off five minutes before sunset.
Then I’ll stop work, walk outside where I have a
beautiful view of the horizon, breathe in the late
afternoon air and watch the sun go down – just
to switch up my day.
“What’s stopping you from booking an
afternoon for yourself occasionally, where you
just do whatever you feel in that time you’ve
allocated yourself? Read a book, buy yourself a
bunch of flowers you’ve never chosen before or
take a different yoga class from the norm.”
Digital diet
If you think you’re lacking time to plan for
spontaneity, a digital diet could help. “One of
the first things I do with my clients is to help
them adopt new methodology around email and
social media time,” says Barbara. “For example,
I suggest switching off email alerts because
otherwise every time your phone or device pings,
you’re distracted by it. It has a huge effect on
your concentration and productivity. Setting
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