What do you do for fun?

A surfer gets ready to tackle the surf at Camel Rock, Bermagui, on New Year's Day, 2008

When I start work with a client, one of the first things we do is focus on fun. This comes even before sorting out goals, aspirations, visions, and wish lists. I find that if you take someone who is already a keenly motivated individual and start talking about re-designing their life and lifestyle, they want to tackle it like they would any other project. Living a great life just becomes one more 'to do' on the task list.

And you know as well as I do that if you take the energy of 'hard work' and 'must achieve' to even something as delightful as creating a brilliant life, then that's what you'll get - creating a life you love that is full of hard work. Ugh. I personally am over the 'hard work', nose-to-the-grindstone, approach to living life, and prefer instead the energy of 'grooviness, peace, flow, and FUN!'

So to cut through this Type A personality, must-achieve mentality, we go right to heart of the matter: first, have some fun. This ramps up the vibe straight away and makes all other lifestyle re-design 'work' an adventure and an exploration instead of a chore.

In fact, one of the best things I learned recently from Eva Gregory, one of the super coaches I interviewed for Law of Attraction Superhighway, is her motto is, "Fun is number one." Now that's a motto worth adopting!

In a recent conversation with coaching client 'Susan', this notion of fun was met with confusion and blank looks. "Fun? I don't have time for fun. I don't remember the last time I had fun, just for fun's sake. How do you have fun again?"

Susan had been so busy being a grown-up, parent, a bread-winner, an ex-wife, a manager that she'd denied herself the simple pleasure of goofing off. After all, she had serious responsibilities - for her children, her step-children, her house, her staff. Life is serious.

Or so Susan believed, at least until she worked out being serious all the time was sapping her life force. Life, in being so serious, was simply passing her by.

Not so now! Susan re-discovered the art of fun. She started slowly - a haircut, a manicure, lunch with a friend, reading a book. Once she eased in to the flow of that feel-good vibe, she started to get a little more adventurous: cooking classes, dance lessons, and heavens forbid - even going out on a date. Good for you Susan.

And so I dedicate 2008 to the Year of Fun, and all those who wish to embrace fun as a way of being, not just a way of recovering.

Want some ideas for fun? Here are some snaps from my Christmas holiday down at the beach - fun central.

Rob catching a wave with his new Manta X Pro 44 inch boogie board.

Rob between sets in the massive New Year's surf.

Me hitting the perfect putt after a great hole on the course - two hits in to the bunker (not so good!) and then sand wedge on to the green followed by this lovely putt that sank like gem in water.

No better way to have fun than simply goof off! This is me hamming it up for the camera in the ever-fashionable and oh-so comfortable Crocs.

Charlie - looking hip in sunnies and cap, has much fun kicking a plastic ball and eating dirt. Ahhh - the simple pleasures of youth.

What's your favourite goof off activity? Drop a comment and let us know. I'm always looking for more goof off ideas!