If you’re like most people, you tend to delay doing something enjoyable—like taking a trip or treating yourself—until your work is done. The problem? For most of us, the work is never truly finished. So the fun keeps getting pushed further and further down the list.
Underlying this habit is a common belief: that you won’t fully enjoy yourself if there’s still work waiting for you. But what if that assumption isn’t true? What if doing something fun before everything is checked off your list is just as enjoyable as waiting for that elusive “perfect time”?
Research suggests exactly that.
In one study, working adults were given two tasks: a mentally demanding set of cognitive tests and a fun, music-based iPad activity. Some participants did the work first, while others started with the fun activity. Before beginning, those who were assigned to “play first” assumed they wouldn’t enjoy it as much. But after completing both tasks, everyone reported the same level of enjoyment—regardless of the order. In other words, doing something fun first didn’t take away from the experience at all.
A similar result showed up in a study with University of Chicago students. Some students received massages before midterms, while others got theirs afterward. Nearly all believed they’d be too stressed to enjoy a massage beforehand, expecting their exams to dominate their thoughts. In reality, that didn’t happen. Students who had massages before exams enjoyed them just as much, and spent far less time worrying than they predicted.
Despite this, many American workers continue to work long hours, skip vacations, and struggle with work-life balance. Ironically, research consistently shows that taking breaks and making time for enjoyment actually improves focus, performance, and overall satisfaction at work.
The truth is, waiting for the “right time” to have fun often means waiting forever.
Having fun shouldn’t feel like something you have to earn. You can keep postponing it for a moment when everything is perfectly in place—or you can enjoy it now. Either way, you’re going to enjoy it just the same.
So why wait?
Stay Diversified, Stay Your Course!
