The Days are Just Packed is a collection of Calvin and Hobbes comic strips by Bill Watterson. I'm not sure I even own this particular collection. It doesn't matter, though. What matters is that I get the message: for Calvin and Hobbes, summer days are so full of fun activities that they never manage to complete even half of what they set out to accomplish in a day.
That's the beauty of life: you don't have enough time to do everything you want to do, and exactly that is what makes it so special.
I really like the idea of having days that are just packed. You're having so much fun that time flies by and suddenly, it's nightfall, and you need to go to bed so that you get to have another packed day tomorrow. I reckon one of the worst kinds of hell a human can create for himself is a life that is void of exciting activities. That he's just waiting for death - and boring himself to death doing it.
Packed days are amazing. You feel like you're enjoying life to the fullest; you're being super productive (whatever that means to you); you're having so much fun that you forget to eat; and in the evening, you feel like you had the best day, and you can go to sleep with a peace of mind.
Safe for the days you specifically want to do nothing and bask in the knowledge that tomorrow will be a packed day again, every day should be a packed day.
So how to pack your days?
- Have a ton of projects. I notice a significant increase in my overall happiness whenever I'm really busy and have loads of things to do on any given day. Note that all your projects don't have to be work-related. Include health projects, art projects, hobbies, as well as a few work projects.
- Make a list every morning (or the night before) of everything you want to accomplish that day so that by accomplishing them, the day would be perfect and you'd get that serene feeling at the end of it. This way you can always refer to the list whenever during the day you feel bored. Boredom is the enemy! Death to boredom!
- Explore new ventures where you can give your potential. Everyone has potential that they don't yet know about and that, when discovered, will bring them joy and meaning. Go after yours! Try everything! Find it!
- Do fun stuff. I don't care if it's socially inappropriate to play with Legos as an adult - if you consider that fun, go do it. No one needs to know.
- Remember that at any moment, regardless of what you're feeling, you can decide to be inspired, excited, and having fun with life. You really do have the power over that. It's only a matter of rewiring your brain to believe everything you say.
And that's it! Pick up projects, pack your days, have the time of your life!
DEATH TO BOREDOM!
RK
Photo by Dariusz Sankowski on Unsplash
