Whether you are suffering a loss or just looking to gain a boost in your mood, here are 10 ways to find joy in your everyday life and put a smile on your face.
1. Explore your creative side
Nothing brings me such peace and joy as exploring my creative side. I have always like art as a kid. As a grown adult I have a new-found love for painting. My fire ignited when I attended a Paint Nite class with some friends after work several months ago and now I’m hooked. I’m a girl on a budget so instead of paying for Paint Nite admission often I do my own painting at home. You can check out my portfolio of work here.
Consider exploring your creative side. Perhaps there was a particular avenue of creativity you loved as a child but fell out of habit once adult responsibilities and life happened. What brings you joy? Drawing? Crafting? Metal stamping? Crochet? Knitting? Interior design? If you are not the creative type perhaps one of the next ideas may suit your fancy.
2. Listen to your favorite Music
One of the tried and true ways to uplift your spirit is through music. If you are down or stressed turn up your I Pod, stereo or TV and dance like nobody’s watching! You know what I’m talking about. Remember the days when we listened to music on cassettes or CDs? You’d turn up your favorite song and grab your hair brush and sing to the make believe audience which consisted of your stuffed animals on your bed or sing at your reflection in the mirror without a care in the world.
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3. Get outside
Go outside and get some fresh air. Being cooped up in the house over long periods of time is not a healthy habit. More research is coming out that sitting for extended periods of time daily is detrimental to one’s health in the long run. Getting outside not only gets your body moving but also allows you to breathe fresh air, get some sunlight (natural Vitamin D) and a chance to enjoy nature. You could visit the local park and lie in the grass, take a nice hike in the woods or just go for a short walk in your neighborhood. Whatever your preference, it will be better and more beneficial to your wellness to get outside period.
4. Volunteer and help others
Believe it or not taking the opportunity to volunteer your time to help others actually can make you feel great. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to help others in need whether it’s at a food bank or helping animals in no kill shelters. You are helping your community. It gives you a sense of satisfaction that you are helping to make the community better by your actions. That’s a great feeling. Also, volunteering opens the door to new opportunities to expand your social circle of friends and network with people you may not normally meet. I personally volunteer for a no kill animal adoption company. If you need ideas as to what you’d like to do, check out this site. You can search for opportunities nationwide.
5. Play with your pet
One of the sure-fire ways to get me to smile is spending time with my cats. They are no longer alive however I have fond memories of them playing with empty boxes, string, and bubbles. The simplicity of playtime makes you smile.
6. If you’re ready, adopt a pet
For anyone thinking about adopting, this is a great way to add joy to your life. Aside from helping the animal overpopulation problem, adopting a cat or dog brings new-found unconditional love, joy, and adventure to any household. Before considering adoption, please consider the responsibilities first. As much joy and happiness a pet can bring, they also come with a big responsibility. Be sure you educate yourself and weigh all the factors to consider such as finances and paying for medical care and food. Also with a pet, your ability to travel is not as easy and think about what supplies you will need when preparing your home for a new pet. With that said, however, the initial investment made is well worth it in the end and returns to you tenfold.
7. Make your favorite meal/dessert
Take time to indulge a little. What is your favorite meal? Do you have a favorite dessert? I’m not one to promote gluttony however a treat once in a while does make me feel good, especially when you’ve deprived yourself for a long period of time. Did you see my recent dessert post Guilt free Pumpkin Spice Holiday Cookies? Check it out!
8. De-clutter your life/home
Another unconventional way to invite positivity and joy into your space is to clean your space. There is a reason why practices like Feng Shui have grown in popularity in Western culture. If you haven’t heard of Feng Shui, have you ever heard the saying “Cleanliness is next to Godliness?” When you take time to throw out old junk, or donate items you no longer use and clear your space in your home, you feel good. You feel lighter. You feel like you have more space to move freely. There is less blocking your way. Literally and figuratively you are clearing out the old and inviting new-found space, energy, and positivity. Cleaning and de-cluttering your home manifests into other areas of your life. You clear the way for leaving old baggage behind and inviting new opportunities for the future.
9. Say “Thanks”
Life is hard and not always fair but I still manage to say “Thanks” even when things do not go my way. Why? I do this because I firmly believe I experience trials in life to make me a stronger person. Whatever I go through is preparing me for the person I will become later in life. I believe the same for everyone else too. Who you are now is a different person than who you were 10 years ago and who you will be 10 years from now. Ultimately, I think whatever we experience in life someone else has also experienced and gotten through the storm and survived. You can too. Lastly, let’s not forget those who have life harder than you do. There are people in other countries struggling to survive or even find clean water to bathe and drink. So I say make it a habit to say “Thanks” and count your blessings because your life could be worse.
10. Try something new
Lastly, try to get the courage to try something new. Go out of your comfort zone and try something you never would do otherwise in your daily life. Try a new hobby or craft. See a monster truck show. Try karaoke with friends on stage. Give your inner spirit a reboot and just go for it. You may end up loving your new adventure and turn it into a newfound hobby. Or you may hate the new experience but at least you tried it and you’ll have stories to tell your friends when you are old. Regardless, get out and try something new, you only get one life to live, make the most of every moment. You may just surprise yourself.
What do you do to help add joy to your everyday life? Comment and share your thoughts below.
