Sometimes, life can feel like a bit of a slog. When you’re under pressure because of your living costs, and work isn’t providing you with any respite, it’s easy to feel depleted. Add to this the stress and hassle that comes with maintaining a house and looking after a family, and you have a recipe for burnout.
If any of this sounds familiar, then it might be time to take a step back and ask where the next spell of joy is coming from. If you don’t have a clear answer, then it might be time to reassess.
Why Joy Often Falls to the Bottom of Your List
If you find yourself endlessly focusing on your responsibilities and putting your children ahead of yourself, then it might be time to think about doing something that everyone will enjoy. If there’s no end in sight with day to day life and chores, then it’s high time to reassess what you want to prioritise for the year.
Of course, the ability to delay gratification can be a valuable thing. But often, we can fixate on denying ourselves joy to the point that our well-being begins to suffer. In this sense, it can be helpful to think of joy as an investment in your mental and physical health, rather than a frivolous luxury.
Recognising What Joy Looks Like in Your Daily Life
It can be helpful to take an audit of the way that you spend your time and how it contributes to that sense of wellbeing. How often do you take a walk through nature? What about meaningful time spent with your family? Occasionally, it might be a good idea to set aside time to plan a trip – but in many cases it’s actually those smaller, daily interactions and rituals that can make the bigger difference.
Making Room Without Adding Pressure
It’s easy to see joy as something you’re obliged to find time for – which can actually be counterproductive when your schedule is already rammed. Review your daily schedule, and be honest about how you’re spending your time. The chances are that you’re indulging in low-value activities every now and then, and that these activities can be substituted for something more intentional and enjoyable. For example, instead of scrolling through your phone after work, you might make time to go outside for a family walk.
Planning Experiences That Feel Worthwhile and Affordable
When you’ve planned those big experiences for the family, you might stand a better chance of enjoying them. Taking holidays, for example, is a great way to get everyone out of routine and off their phones and is always worth the cost! You can book ahead and travel off-peak in order to drive down the cost so that you can get more for your money, or try to seek out package deals. Cheap ski holidays are more abundant than you might think and often have something for the whole family to enjoy.
Maintaining Joy as an Ongoing Priority
If you’re going to sustain this commitment to finding joy and reward in your life, then you’ll need to be consistent about it. Make sure that it stays part of your routine, and you’re not tempted to sideline it as the weeks go by. This might mean occasionally reflecting on your priorities with the help of a journal or a diary. Do this right, and you’ll find it much easier to find those little moments of joy!
