Leisure is often one of those areas that is neglected or overlooked. It is such an important aspect of our lives. Leisure time provides us each opportunity to re-energize, rejuvenate and gain much needed energy for the work that we do.

Have you ever experienced "flow"? Flow is an energy that I have experienced as highly electric, creative and ongoing. I love being in the flow. I am able to accomplish a lot. I share my passion more. And, I find that I connect with people more easily. Leisure is one of the ways that I reconnect with flow when I find myself out of the flow. Taking time for myself and for leisure, I reconnect to myself, my energy and my passion. Each of these benefits all aspects of my life.

Leisure, however, can be an area of our lives that gets put on the back burner. We don't take the time to focus on ourselves or our families. Sometimes, family and children can interfere with our own personal needs as well. It goes beyond wanting balance.

In residential settings where recreation professionals work there are often leisure and recreation plans that are created for the residents. I always thought that would be fun to have a recreation plan. Now, as a coach, I recommend it. We should each have a leisure and recreation plan that we can utilize within out lives.

To develop your leisure plan take the following steps: 1. Create a list of the activities that you love (maybe they are things that you used to do and don't do any longer.) 2. Circle the top 5 activities that you want to pursue. 3. List the resources that you need and the resources that you have. For instance, if one of your circled activities is to go kayaking and you don't have a kayak, then that is a resource that you need. Perhaps your plan initially will be to rent a kayak to try it out before buying a kayak. 4. Create a plan for accomplishing each of your top five activities. List each of the things that you need to do to make the leisure activity happen. The list might look like: activity: vacation in Italy: Identify tour company; dates; start savings plan to afford trip; make reservations.... There might be many steps within one activity and that is fine. 5. Pick one leisure activity plan to begin working on today and take your first step towards improved leisure.

Leisure planning itself can be fun. You might need tour brochures, magazines, or other materials for your planning. These can create excitement themselves. Be sure that you start planning your leisure time today. Include big and small activities so that immediately you can incorporate leisure into your life. Include things like a cup of tea outside, or a candle lit bath. Leisure is individual and can incorporate many different things. The critical thing is to include it!!