I recently read an article in Experience Life magazine that said that the majority of Americans spend less than 20 percent of each day doing what could be termed very engaging, enjoyable and meaningful activities (such as talking with close friends, bonding with loved ones, creating, playing, or pursuing a spiritual practice). Instead, most of our time and energy are spent either engaged in unsatisfying work activities and chores (commuting, standing in line at the post office, fixing broken appliances), or decompressing in ways that bring neither joy nor challenge (watching TV, snacking or just “doing nothing”).
Lets face it, living in today’s modern world is not easy. We generally all have to work to pay our bills, buy groceries, maintain all the stuff that we own (homes, cars, clothes, furniture, gadgets the list could go on and on). How is that we ever find time to engage in meaningful and enjoyable activities? Many of us after coming home from a long days work, just want to “zone” out in front of the television.
Does it have to be this way? At the end of the day all each of us wants is to feel good and happy. Is there a way to cultivate happiness in small doses on a daily basis?
Here are a few tips to help you engage in daily engaging rituals that create curiosity and joy.
1) Reconnect with play. This could be as easy as setting up a game night once a week with friends or family.
2) Be curious and ask questions. Many of us go through the day or meet someone new and don’t inquire about who they are. Start asking yourself and others more questions, become self reflective. Why do you do the things that you do? What motivates you?
3) Hang out with young children. If you don’t know of any children in your inner circle find a place to volunteer at that will get you around young children. Or just hang out in a local park, bring your lunch and watch the kids play. Their curiosity and playfulness will rub off on you.
4) Slow down. Are you the type of person that over schedules your day? Do you find that you barely have enough to eat let alone enjoy a walk in the park? Trying scheduling 30 minutes out of each day to slow down. Maybe it is just taking time every day to get a cup of coffee or tea and read a magazine or book.
What do you do to bring joy to your day to day life?
