Daily Life Inspiration New York

A guide to spontaneous planning!

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I bought train tickets to go up to Montreal next week!

By this time of the year, I usually fall into a routine and start feeling a bit restless. Even T.S. Eliot wrote that “April is the cruelest month.” Sometimes it makes all the difference to shift my daily routine and plan out a place and time for new experiences. And I’m a firm believer in planning spontaneity.

I love the anticipation of learning about a place, giving my bathroom a scrub so I can come back to a clean home, and doing a thorough job of packing. But I’ve never been to Montreal or been on a long train trip in North America. I’m so excited!

* I took these photos this past weekend on a walk around the Brooklyn Botanic Garden with Jannese and D, and an outdoor brunch in Jacob’s sunny backyard.

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A mini guide to planning spontaneity:

1. Schedule an hour with no plans. Spend the hour doing whatever comes to mind. Wonder around your neighborhood or go to the movies.
2. Brainstorm a creative to-do list and keep it somewhere handy. Here’s my list that I go back to, from time to time.
3. But put away that to-do list, if another good idea pops into your head. Follow through with your idea.
4. Learn something new. You could follow tutorials, work with a friend, or sign up for a class. My pottery classes have been truly rewarding.
5. Take opportunities to be kind. Call up a friend and see how she or he has been doing. Give another blogger a heartfelt compliment.

“It is not futile to do what we do. We wake up with energy and we do something. And we make, of course, failures and we make mistakes, but we sometimes get glimpses of what we might do next.” ― A quote by John Cage

17 Comments

  • Reply
    Emmie Rae
    April 11, 2012 at 11:57 pm

    Your how-to’s have got to be one of my favourite things! I do love a little planned spontaneity. Your trip sounds really exciting too. Can’t wait to see the photos when you return. Oooh and I am so envious of all these beautiful cherry blossom trees you have nearby. They’re beautiful!

    • Reply
      Sewon
      April 12, 2012 at 3:14 pm

      Thanks, Emmie Rae! I’m so excited about the cherry blossom season~ 🙂

  • Reply
    Barbara
    April 12, 2012 at 2:12 am

    I really need to read more classicals. Enjoy your trip, can’t wait to see some pics!

    • Reply
      Sewon
      April 12, 2012 at 3:14 pm

      Thanks, Barbara! I hope my mail reaches you soon, too.

  • Reply
    teresa
    April 12, 2012 at 3:19 am

    yay for the trip to montréal! i love short trips because they require so little planning that every little adventure during one is always a plus!

    this entry is completely useful to me — thank you so much! i am sooo bad at time management… i’ll give your method a go and see what happens 🙂

    • Reply
      Sewon
      April 12, 2012 at 3:15 pm

      I wish I could take a trip down to D.F. but I guess that wouldn’t be a short trip..

      <3

  • Reply
    Pink Ronnnie
    April 12, 2012 at 6:04 am

    I love the idea of scheduling an hour with no plans. Makes complete sense to me. I need to try to do that more.
    Ronnie xo

    • Reply
      Sewon
      April 12, 2012 at 3:16 pm

      Sometimes a scheduled break is what you need to boost creative energy. Even my dad swears by it, even though he’s more of a workaholic than I am. 🙂

  • Reply
    Marlous
    April 12, 2012 at 8:25 am

    What a beautiful gardens! Must be great living in New York, I’d love to see more of that!

    • Reply
      Sewon
      April 12, 2012 at 3:26 pm

      I love seeing green spaces in urban cities. I think the Brooklyn Botanic Garden is expanding, which makes me think they have enough funding and support to do that! 🙂

  • Reply
    Veronica Fish
    April 13, 2012 at 4:12 pm

    Schedule an hour with no plans, genius!! We all need that now and then

  • Reply
    Lindsey
    April 14, 2012 at 1:28 pm

    You always post the best stuff! I love the whole idea of this entry, Unfortunately, it would be extremely hard for me to put down my to do list haha, something to work on I guess 😛

  • Reply
    kelly zarb
    April 15, 2012 at 2:36 am

    This was a beautiful post Sewon, I loved it!! its so true about connecting with our loved ones and friends more often even if its just to say hi, its such a simple loving gesture we should do it more. Also just taking a little bit of time out each day just for US.

  • Reply
    Rina
    April 15, 2012 at 2:55 pm

    SeWon you’re going to Montréal?! How fun!!
    That’s good you’re changing things up a bit, instead of staying in the same old routine.
    I love your guide to spontaneous planning. SeWon you look so pretty in those pictures!
    Oh, I always like cleaning my room and my bathroom before I go on trip.
    It feels nice coming home to a clean house.
    Have fun in Montréal! bring us back some pictures and fun stories♥♥

  • Reply
    Cookie Cutter
    April 15, 2012 at 10:01 pm

    Those blooms are BEAUTIFUL! Thanks for the reminder to add more spontaneity to life! Some of the purest joys in life come from spurs of the moment.

  • Reply
    Crystal
    April 16, 2012 at 2:01 am

    What a great post! I absolutely love the idea of planned spontaneity because I’m a person who likes to plan things, but who has always felt like I should be more spontaneous.

    I also like the idea of making a list like 24 things to do before age 25. I think I’ll have to put together a list like that…but I’ll have to shoot for a different age as I’m already 25.

    Have a great time in Montreal! I’m looking forward to seeing your pictures!

  • Reply
    tasha
    April 17, 2012 at 10:47 am

    thank you for your ever lovely posts! <3 i love your sunglasses, btw hehe. those blooms are beautiful and i love your guide to spontaneity xxxx

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