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Introduction
Welcome back to the weekly newsletter.
It’s so easy to drown in the day to day hustle…
..and forget to live.
Some of my best weeks started when I flipped the order. I booked joy first. Work filled the rest. Higher energy, better focus. This issue shows you how to lock one weekly Joy Block on your calendar and protect it like a board meeting. It’s simple, humane, and it works.
Weekly highlight: Book non-work fun first, then work around it.
Most calendars start with duties. That’s why they feel heavy. A Weekly Joy Block reverses that weight. You plant one slice of pure, non-work fun before you stack tasks. The result is steady energy, cleaner focus, and fewer “I’ll do it later” spirals. Joy first. Then output.
Why Book Joy First
Willpower is not a bottomless well. Fun refills it. When you schedule joy first, you protect the very fuel your week needs. You lower stress, curb doom-scrolling, and return to work with a better brain. It’s not indulgence. It’s maintenance.
What a Joy Block Is (and Isn’t)
It is one planned, specific, no-guilt session: a hike, a pottery class, a game night, a long read, a swim.
It isn’t a reward you earn only after work. It isn’t “leftover time.” It isn’t aimless scrolling. It’s booked on purpose and kept on time.
It also isn’t a block that will suddenly expand to full day of procrastination. One session – that’s it.
Pick Your Flavor
- Solo recharge: novel + coffee, sketching, gaming, a sunrise run.
- Social spark: lunch with a friend, date night, a pickup match.
- Wonder hit: museum hour, live music, farmers’ market.
- Body joy: dance class, yoga, trail walk, sauna.
Make it vivid. Name the place. Set the start and end.
Where It Goes on the Calendar
Choose a moment that often collapses. One that falls apart: gets eaten by meetings, chores, or low energy. Sunday afternoon. Wednesday night. Early Friday. Put it there every week. Recurring event. Same title. Same rules. Add the address and the gear list in the invite notes. Reduce friction to zero.
Boundaries That Hold
Treat it like a work meeting. No overlaps. No “I’ll just join this quick call.” Phone on Do Not Disturb. Tell the key people in your life what this block is and why it matters. Clarity prevents conflict.
Work Around Joy (Not Over It)
Plan your Big 3 work outcomes after the Joy Block is locked. Fit deep-work windows around it. Use the constraint to plan smarter. Shorter, cleaner blocks beat long, messy marathons. You will get more done because you feel better doing it.
If the Week Blows Up
Have a backup slot already chosen. If you must move it, move it once. Do not delete it. When time shrinks, scale the joy, don’t cancel it. Ten minutes of guitar still beats none. The message to yourself is the point: “My life includes this.”
Signals It’s Working
You start Mondays lighter. You need fewer “treats” at night. You switch tasks faster. Sleep improves. People notice you are less snappy and more steady. And yes, your output climbs because your tank stays full.
For Leaders and Families
Leaders: model it. Your team learns from your calendar, not your slogans. Families: coordinate Joy Blocks together. Shared calendars prevent clashes and build support. Protect each other’s time and everyone wins.
Application
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Open your calendar. Pick one 60–90 minute slot this week. Make it recurring.
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Title it with a real activity and location. Add notes for gear, tickets, or links.
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Tell one person who might be affected. “This is important; I’ll be offline then.”
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Plan your three key work outcomes after the Joy Block is in place.
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If life hits hard, move it once to your backup slot. Do not delete.
Summary
Joy is not a bonus. It’s a system. Book it first, then build the week around it. You’ll show up calmer, think clearer, and finish more. One block. Every week. No apologies.
Till next time,
Maciej
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