Are you looking for a little more joy in everyday life?

(Yes, it’s a trick question.  Who says “no, thanks” to more joy??)

So let’s assume you’ve got a hankering for some added joy in your life.  I invite you to try one of these quick tips for a little pick-me-up.  They may be suggestions you’ve heard before, but maybe this is just the friendly little reminder you need to actually DO one of these things.

1.     Moments of Rest

Take some time for yourself to rest and replenish your energy.  When my schedule is really full, I try to take even just 15 minutes to do something restful.  It’s great if you can get a break for a few hours or a whole day, but even when things are hectic, try to create moments of rest.  Maybe it’s reading something for pleasure.  Maybe it’s a slow stroll around your neighborhood.  Maybe it’s sitting on your patio or laying in a hammock.  Rest looks different for everyone, so figure out what works for you.  Just remember, “escaping the world” is not necessarily the same as rest that replenishes your energy, so be sure to notice what truly fills you.  If you can make some time to get filled by rest, it’s likely you’ll find joy in that.

2.    Renew – Do Something Different

Activities that renew us generate different energy for us.  For example, two weeks ago, my husband and I enjoyed an evening of outdoor theatre (shout out to Buffalo’s Shakespeare in Delaware Park – an amazing Western New York tradition!).  As we walked back to the car that evening, I remarked, “My soul just feels so full.”  That night was joyful for me.  That’s renewal… for me.  Renewal might be a different activity for you.  Renewing might be some form of exercise, or taking in a film, or visiting with a friend, or anything that allows you to use and experience different energy than what you use at work.

3.    Review… and Be Grateful

If you’ve been following my blogs this summer, you might have predicted that rest and renew would be followed by review!  But it’s for good reason.  Reviewing our lives reminds us of things we’re grateful for.  Research has shown over and over again that gratitude is the surest path to joy.  So create a regular pattern of reviewing your life – daily is great, weekly works too - and be sure to pause and relish the feelings of gratitude.  The more often we do this, the more our joy increases!

4.    Connect with People

Even the introverts among us are wired for social connection.  Especially when it’s connection that we choose (as opposed to forced interactions that might come from a work setting).  When you’re seeking more joy, carve out some time to connect with someone who is life-giving for you.  If texting is all you can manage, then do that, but you’ll find more joy if you can actually manage a visit or a phone call.  Maybe you’ll consider a “Take 5” – find one or more people with whom you can take five minutes for a quick phone call.  When you need a break (and a quick joy infusion), text them to say, “Can you take 5?”  Most of us – no matter how busy – can pause for 5 minutes for someone we care about.  Set a timer to keep yourselves honest.  Lean into those five minutes, enjoy them, and notice whether these little “take 5’s” bring more joy to your life.

5.    Help Someone Else

How can you bring a smile to someone else?  How can you make another person’s day just a little brighter?  How can you ease a burden for someone else?  Maybe this is something you want to formalize by making a commitment of volunteer service with a charitable organization, or maybe it’s simply a practice that you weave into your everyday life.  Whether it’s a big favor or a small one, a significant sacrifice or a small kindness, helping others inevitably brings joy to our own heart, too. 

So there you have it:  my “top 5” list of joy-builders.  What would you add?  Hit reply and let me know your go-to strategies for increasing your joy!

P.S.  If all these fail, try ice cream.