Let’s face it, there are lots of times when we get into the rut of feeling bored and basically depressed about our lives.

Maybe you’ve fallen into a routine of doing things the same way every single day. Hanging out with the same people, eating the same meals, listening to the same music, taking the same vacation to the same spot each year, etc.

Hopefully this will help shake you out of it…

It’s too easy for life to simply pass you by unless you proactively create your own FUN plans! You are responsible for your own enjoyment out of life – stop waiting for others to do that for you.

Part of the Internet Lifestyle is FUN…and there really doesn’t seem to be enough of that in everyone’s lives. Think back to when you were a kid – most of use had mandatory fun built into our days with recess, right?

Why isn’t there recess for entrepreneurs?

Now you probably won’t go and play dodge ball this afternoon but you can have your own recess if do something about it yourself. My favorite fun times have been things I’ve gone out and done and not waited for them to fall into my lap. This might sound a little ‘type A’ (which I’m definitely not) but you have to put fun activities on your calendar or else your fun & entertainment by default becomes vegging in front of the TV. Of course, it’s great to be spontaneous but unless you are completely free of responsibilities you’ll need to make plans because. (Ahh….speaking of being free of responsibilities…I remember being in college when my buddies and I drove all night in a Previa mini van to get to Mardi Gras. And of course we had no reservations so we slept in the van too!)

Making plans could be as simple as inviting friends over for a night of games or as wild as running with the bulls in Spain!

I know that my Internet buddies, who are scattered throughout the country, will not get together unless someone takes the initiative and makes plans. We all have a great time when we see each other (like this last trip to Vegas) but we all get wrapped up in our own worlds and unless it’s in the calendar there won’t be a trip anywhere or we’ll meet at a seminar (which involves us doing some business – yuck!)

Planning a fun activity is the first step but most ‘normal’ people don’t go beyond the typical Friday night out of dinner & movies – but you’re not normal. Plan something unique and exciting for your friends to do.

But don’t stop there…I’m always thinking about how I can add a little more fun to regular events too. For instance, my last birthday party (September 25th for those of you who want to send me lots of presents!), Missy invited our friends over for a nice catered party. Well that wasn’t enough for me. I decided we should have “party quirks” like in the Improv TV show “Who’s Line is it Anyway”. So each guest upon arriving at the party would pull 3 different party quirks from a hat like these:

• Make an animal noise after you make a point in a conversation. (ie. Mooo, Quack, etc)
• Tell people they have something on their face but they never seem to get if off.
• Your tongue has become swollen by an allergic reaction to the sushi or shellfish.
• Be the most annoying person always on your PDA or blackberry and interrupting conversations to check it.
• Slap or push people for emphasis in conversation.
• Talk about government conspiracy theories (i.e. JFK, Aliens, Elvis is alive, etc)
• Your hands are magnetically attracted to anything metal.
• Be an extremely close talker (stand extra close to the person you’re having a conversation with.)
• Use a totally fake British accent with British slang (i.e. Loo for bathroom, Bobby for police officer, Bird for girl, etc)
• Talk on your cell phone loudly because you are VERY important.
• Any last word someone uses in their conversation with you – you say, “Speaking of ___(their word)___” And then move on to a totally different subject.
• Say words that can be construed as sexual in nature or have double innuendos
• Refer to yourself only in 3rd person (i.e. <Your Name> doesn’t like shrimp)
• Do not use anyone else’s first name. Guys are “Ace”, “Pal”, “Big Guy”, “Bud”, “Champ”, “Killer”, “Sport”, etc. Gals are “Sweetie”, “Love”, “Honey”, “Babe”
• Finish other people’s sentences for them.
• Eat off a stranger’s plate 3x (the same stranger).
• Give tours of the house like you are a Realtor
• Check your cell phone signal and ask guests how many bars they have.
• High 5 everyone!
• Work the crowd giving lap dances
• One up everything other people say. (i.e. “Yeah I just got back from skiing in Canada”. You: “Oh yeah – I just got back from dog sledding in Norway for 2 weeks.”

There were a few people who didn’t perform their quirks and they will be banned from future parties but it was pretty funny when people did actually play along. My friend, Rob, had the cell phone bars and he kept getting people with it. And my personal trainer, Jeff, got the “high five” quirk and it was perfect for him.

Even if you got an awesome experience planned you can still add more fun to it just like when Frank Kern and I did the Player’s Run Road Rally last year. We one-upped most of the other participants by coming out as Elvises. (or what that be Elvi?) Each day we were a different Elvis from 1950’s jailhouse rock Elvis to fat, bloated Elvis.

If you need some ideas for something fun – why not take a class? I’ve done Improv classes and a stand up comedy class and really loved it. Actually there’s some footage up here of my stand up. Think about something you really wanted to do as a kid but never got around to it – most communities have all kinds of continuing education available if you look for it.

Go out there and find what gets you excited. I remember one night I was feeling a bit blue since I hadn’t traveling in a bit and decided to search for one of my favorite activities “beach volleyball” + “vacation” online. Surprisingly I found the perfect trip put on by an AVP professional, AL-B Hanneman, called “Volleyball Vacations”. I’ve been twice now and hoping to go another time this year. I loved it! (There’s a little uncensored video here from a previous trip.)

Be the person that initiates and makes it happen or be the person that brings a chicken suit to add to the adventure. (Yes, I’ve done that too and it’s damn funny!)

I have 2 upcoming fun activities that I’m spearheading for my local friends. 1) We’re going to do a ‘video scavenger hunt’ where each team will have a list of activities they need to record. Then we’ll all get back together and watch everyone’s antics. I read about it in the Washington Post and thought it would awesome!

2) I’m also planning either a “Elvis Crawl” or a “chicken crawl” where everyone dresses as Elvi or as Chickens. I’ll keep you posted here on it – maybe some of you want to come.

It’s already halfway through the year – what fun stuff have you done with your life?

Here are some good books that might help get you going –

Die Happy: 499 Things Every Guy’s Gotta Do While He Still Can by Tim And Michael Burke

1,000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler’s Life List by Patricia Schultz

101 Things to Do Before You Die by Richard Horne

Fact is, life is going to pass with or without you taking charge (just like in business). It’s the people who are proactive and put fun activities on their calendars who live life to the fullest. I have a saying – “You can’t control how you’ll die but you can control how you live.” It’s the difference between being a spectator to being a participant. Start a “BIG list” of stuff, experiences and things you want to do.

What fun activity (big or small) can you plan right now? Post it here and let us all see what you’re doing. Or what have you done that others should really do?