Not having fun anymore

Does anyone ever just feel like they're going through the motions of their sims lives and not having fun? I'll have story lines planned out in my head, but between taking care of needs, career progression, and everything else, I can hardly leave the house. My sims usually loose their friends, don't see family and just are living to work and move my story along.

Just wondering if anyone else has experience this and knows of ways to play differently...

Thank you!