What would it be like to schedule moments of joy in your life? We schedule in all of our activities and appointments such as doctor’s visits, sports practices and even work obligations. Why not joy? Often, we are so busy running from one activity to the next that our own happiness often ends up on the back burner. If you’re already a pro at working with a calendar, scheduling in joy could be an important practice to help improve your life.
How do I know what brings me joy?
If you’re struggling to know what might bring you joy, try a few things that you think you might enjoy. Make a running list and add anything that intrigues you. This could be activities to try, places to visit, or even people that you’d like to spend time with. Whatever brings you happiness can be added to the list. You can pull from and add to it whenever you get inspired.
Make scheduling in joy a priority
When you think about your to-do list, make joy just as important as all the other things you need to get done. When you prioritize your happiness, it makes everyday just a little bit better. You’ll gain energy and motivation from your joyful moments to get through the less joyful or stressful ones.
Mark it on your calendar
Mark joy on your calendar, literally. Find opportunities throughout your week that you can schedule in joy. You might schedule a full day on the weekend, or even 15 minutes between appointments. Use whatever time you have and write it down. The joy will be more likely to happen because you have already allotted time for a joyful activity.
Commit to yourself
Commit to joy as an essential part of your wellbeing. Just as it is important to work hard for whatever you’d like to achieve in your life, enjoying the time you spend in other areas of your life is an essential part of a happy and well-balanced life. Scheduling in joy can help you commit to a happier you, and help you create a more positive mindset.
About Therapist Samantha Nolan, MA, LPC, ATR- Barnum Counseling
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