Learning to embrace spontaneity

If you've been following me for a while, it probably won't surprise you to know that I’m not the most spontaneous person. I'm typically quite the planner, preferring to map things out in advance. When I meet people who prefer to go with the flow, I always wonder, why do that when you can plan ahead and know what will happen? Perhaps I have slight control freak tendencies.

Yet, at the beginning of the month, my daughter booked a trip to Portugal and asked if I would like to join her. The trip was planned only a couple of weeks in advance—something unheard of for me, as I usually like to have things scheduled months ahead. Due to work commitments, I knew I would have to work while in Portugal, but it also meant I could take a few days off to spend in the sun with my daughter. For me, this was far more spontaneous than usual.

I don’t think I’ll ever be the person who decides on a whim to head off to the airport and travel somewhere without prior planning (though, with all the rain we get in Scotland, it does sound appealing!). However, when my daughter suggested Portugal, I thought, why not seize this opportunity? Until recently, my life just hasn’t allowed for this kind of last-minute decision-making.

It may have been a limiting belief, but due to certain commitments and responsibilities, I’ve felt the need to plan in advance. As you might know, I was a single parent for eight years, and juggling that while growing a business and managing a team didn’t leave much room for spontaneity. Honestly, I didn't design my life to allow for it. So, this feels like a new muscle to flex, a new practice to embrace.

A few weeks ago, after visiting a client, I was staying overnight, and they suggested I stay longer if I wanted. For the first time in many years, that was genuinely an option. I could say yes without having to make elaborate plans and coordinate around this moment of spontaneity. There’s a newfound freedom in that—a liberation and a sense of possibility.

Now, I find myself questioning how to incorporate more spontaneity into my life. I’ve focused mainly on planning and strategising, which has served me well, but it would be nice to explore this freedom more and see what opportunities arise when I’m open to them.

Are you more of a planner, or do you prefer to go with the flow? Take a look at your schedule and see if you can make some time for spontaneity. Whether it’s something big, like booking a last-minute trip, or something small, like trying a new coffee shop or going for a walk with no destination in mind. Let’s embrace being spontaneous together.