4 Ways to Add Joy to Your Day

During the daily hustle and bustle of caregiving, it may feel like you’ve forgotten what lifts your spirit and fills your heart with joy.  Depending on the caregiving needs calling out for your attention each day, it might not leave you with very much spare time – or energy – for things that make you laugh and feel happy.

Connecting with a joy-filled and life-giving activity is one of the best ways to care for yourself while caring for another person.

Positive experiences like smiling and feeling a moment of joy or laughter are just as important for your mental health as they are for your physical health. These experiences cause our brains to release “feel good” mood-boosting endorphins that have a lasting positive impact on our overall wellbeing and even our caregiver endurance. Little moments of joy throughout your day add up.

Let’s think about how you can intentionally add joy to your day.  Do you enjoy reading magazines or working on puzzles? Do you like listening to music or podcasts? When was the last time you made your favorite muffin recipe or called a friend just to chat?

Everyone finds joy in different things. Our hope is that you’ll be inspired by one or more of the ideas below so that you can increase your daily joy…beginning today!

1. Notice nature.
   The world around us is full of signs of new life.  Take a moment to open a window or crack a door to hear the birds singing in the morning or the rain falling in the afternoon. Trim a few blooms off a beautiful plant and sit them in a glass on your counter for you to enjoy each time you walk by.
2. Give yourself a joyful pep-talk.
   You are important. Your life has meaning and purpose. You are doing an incredible job. Write positive statements on notecards and stick them to your bathroom mirror, near your kitchen sink, or on the refrigerator door.  Each time you see one, read it and let the pep-talk lift your spirits.
3. Take time to eat and do so with joy.
   Caregivers tend to eat quickly and even skip meals. Be sure to make time to eat meals and snacks throughout the day.  While you eat, shift your focus to enjoying what you are doing in the moment (instead of your mental to-do list) as you take bites.
4. Say three things.
   Pause and think of three things in your life that make you happy and bring you joy. Take a moment to acknowledge the joy in your life by saying these things out loud. Throughout the day, especially in tough moments, pause and say three more things.  The more you recognize the joy in your life, the more you will feel the joy from them.

Tapping into joy might seem like a low priority on the long list of things you have to do as a caregiver. But, including things that you love and make you happy will help your daily outlook and improve your ability to cope in stressful situations.