Our everyday life can become pretty challenging sometimes. Days packed with to do’s and responsibilities leave hardly any time to pause and breathe. So we start looking forward to the weekend, to that party, to the next vacation, and so on. Don’t get me wrong, it is completely fine to be excited about upcoming events, but you should never lose focus over what is happening in your life right now. Living like this, we spend most of the time “waiting for something” instead of actually living our lives. So if you pay attention, you’ll see that it’s the small things that matter most, and create a life full of joy and happiness.
Here are some suggestions on how to find joy in everyday activities.
+ Think small picture
We all have dreams, goals, or an initial idea of how our life should look like. Well, the truth is, sometimes things don’t go the way we have imagined them to go. Planning things a long time ahead can leave you frustrated because there are so many things that can happen in the meantime that can have you change direction. A rough outline of what you intend to do is always good to have but to ensure joy and happiness try to think small picture. What could bring you joy today? Take one day at a time, and ultimately all those small daily moments of joy will build up to a fulfilled life. Last night, for example, we had so much snow coming down, that I have decided to go outside and build an igloo with my girls. We ended up having so much fun, that I totally forgot about time or anything else I had to do.
+ Be grateful
Gratitude is a pretty quick way to change the quality of your life. It’s about actively paying attention to the things you’re grateful for. Try to focus, so you can feel and see the good in your life. Practicing gratitude physically changes your brain and can be seen as a happiness booster. While being grateful you’re stimulating neural pathways in your brain, and those become stronger. It is like training for the brain to recognize those specific patterns in your life. Take a few minutes at the end of each day, and just write down a list of things that you were grateful for that day. A gratitude journal is a good way to remind yourself of what you have and will add positivity to your life. If you want to know more about ways to practice gratitude you can also read this post.
+ Add self-care to your routine
In our busy lives, we take care of everything but ourselves. Sometimes we are rushing through life, trying to please everyone, and get all necessities done without paying attention to what really matters: our own wellbeing. In order you add joy to your everyday life you need to block some time that is just devoted to yourself, where you do something you really enjoy. During my “me-time” I love to go for a run, or take a really long bath and read a book. Whatever it is that makes you feel good and helps restore some energy is perfect.
+ Be present
When we let our thoughts run freely, most of the time they go either into the past or the future. You might remember a nice vacation, regret something you have done in the past, or make a plan for an upcoming event. All those things are either over or have not happened yet. You have no control over those things. The one and only thing you do have control over is the here and now. Yes, exactly this moment right here. You chose to read this post. Just like you choose to do some things, you can also choose to be 100% present while doing it. Don’t let your thoughts take over, because that would mean you cannot experience this moment to the fullest, and this moment will never come back. You just have one chance for each and every moment in your life. Even if it’s nothing special you’re doing, when you are present, every moment will feel a lot more meaningful.
+ Learn to let go
One of the most valuable things I have learned over the years is that you have to learn how to let go of things that either don’t serve you, or you cannot control. I’ve been stuck holding grudges for a really long time, and it didn’t help me, nor did it make the situation any better. It was the opposite – it made me sad and got my life even more complicated. The moment I started to change my perspective on things, the sky cleared and things got better. Bad things happen but that’s just life, and keeping your mind stuck in negative emotions will eventually cost you the possibility of having a happy life. Learn to let go of those thoughts or emotions, and try to forgive yourself and others. Moving on and looking past things that happened is the one and only way to go here.