6 Ways to Uplift Your Spirit and Well Being.
As May approaches, I have decided to spend more time seeking out and participating in activities that nurture my day-to-day sense of well-being. It’s always good to take a new look around and find the simple ways we can enrich our daily schedules to bring us more joy, and happiness. It’s so easy to get stuck in “busy-ness” that we forget to plan our days deliberately, but there are so many small ways to enhance your daily experience.
To inspire you to explore the choices, I’ve listed here some ideas below that I have on my monthly calendar. Consider adding a few of the following to your weekly to-do list too:
- Gardening: Spring is a good time to prepare for an amazing summer harvest and I’ve always found that gardening is one of the best ways to unwind, get some exercise, and enjoy the fresh air. And if you need some help developing your green thumb, try stepping into any local nursery or garden shop near your home. These places are usually full of friendly staff ready to share their gardening secrets with you. And don’t let an urban environment discourage you! There are tons of ways to grow great flowers and veggies in pots and vertical spaces.
2. Breakfast, lunch or a late afternoon visit with a friend: This is simple, but it isn’t always easy — as there never seem to be enough days in the week to coordinate schedules with friends we love. I have committed to setting aside two times each month to catch up with a friend. No business, just pure pleasure. Picking a new breakfast or lunch spot or finding that perfect bench with a view is a great way to catch up and reconnect.
3. Take a walk around town: If you are not familiar with your neighborhood, you will be amazed how much you missed by not getting out of the car and walking around on foot. It is quite remarkable how many new lovely shops and restaurants pop up all the town to change the complexion of a local neighborhood. And if you haven’t paid any attention before, discovering a neighboring community is really a treat. Anyone that has enjoyed the fun of exploring a new town on vacation knows how much fun this can be. My favorite is always the farmer’s market!
4. Find Culture, Enjoy Art: I am always looking for more opportunities to see lovely art and this time of year there are more art festivals, art studio openings and local gallery events than any other time. Check out your local paper or online community press to get to know what’s happening in your area. Those of you in an urban setting are lucky to always have museum visits and new exhibits as an option.
5. Read more books: I love spending time at my local library. No matter where I move, I always go check out the library as one of my first introductions to my neighborhood. If you haven’t been, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. The local library is an easy way to have access to all the latest novels and nonfictions, DVD’s and more. Most libraries now allow you to reserve your books online and the library will email you when the books are waiting for you to pick up. Check out the local library closest to you — it is so convenient, and such a sustainable and green thing to do!
6. Re-start a hobby: Did you love watercolors as a teen but haven’t picked up your paint box for ages? What about that bag of knitting that you used to love to do while binge watching your favorite television show? We all have those old hobbies that somehow got stored away during a move or busy time and never resurfaced. It is so enjoyable to think about one of these and try it out again. I recently did this with collage making. I had not done it for years but when I dragged out my supplies and made some space for it, I realized how much I still love expressing myself my creativity this way and how enriching it is to make the time for a beloved hobby again. What’s your hidden hobby waiting to rediscovered?
Putting a bit more purely self-imposed joy and fun into your week is an effort everyone around you benefits from too!
Originally published at medium.com