Schedule Less, Enjoy More
I'm not a planner. Now it looks like I'm right. A new study has found that scheduling takes the fun out of things. Vacations. Parties. Scheduling, whether keeping a calendar, a to-do list or setting a smartphone reminder, is a saving grace for many people trying to accomplish as much as they can, as efficiently as they can. But new research from Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis suggests it is best to ditch that to-do list when it comes to having fun. Research has shown that assigning a specific date and time for leisure can have the opposite intended effect, making it feel much like a chore. Additionally, researchers found that both the anticipation of the leisure activity and enjoyment from it decreased once it was scheduled. “Looking at a variety of different leisure activities, we consistently find that scheduling can make these otherwise fun tasks feel more like work and decrease how much we enjoy them,” G...