5 Ways to Bring Joy Back into Your Life

5 Ways to Bring Joy Back into Your Life

It’s Spring 2020, and people are wondering if life as we know it will ever be the same.

Many of us are still in quarantine. Some of us have lost our jobs or found ourselves in the unfamiliar role of teacher overnight. Upcoming vacations have been postponed or cancelled altogether.

Shortly before COVID-19 hit the U.S., I had a great opportunity come up.

An opportunity I’d been waiting months for.

But then the virus hit the states, and that opportunity fell by the wayside.

I spent the first part of quarantine resigned about this loss before making the decision I had to move forward.

The responsibility for my happiness was on me and me alone, not outside circumstances.

I had to change what I was thinking.

Yes, there are a lot of unknowns right now.

For all of us.

Life definitely won’t be the same going forward after this unprecedented time.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t “bring the joy” (as one of my favorite speakers, Brendon Burchard, says) and live a fulfilling life.

Here are five ways you can bring joy back into your life.

Shift Your Mindset

I wanted to start with your mindset first because until you allow the possibility of living from a place of abundance regardless of your circumstances, you can do all the things I list below and still fail to experience joy if you’re just going through the motions.

Joy is a feeling you create from your thoughts.

Until you understand you can control your thoughts and choose to think thoughts in line with feeling joy, you can’t set the stage for a joyful life.

Practice Self-Care

My definition of self-care is you, taking care of your body and mind.

What Self-Care Is

Getting Exercise

It’s recommended the average adult get 2.5 hours of moderate exercise a week.

Exercise has always been touted as the way to tone up and lose weight.

But the benefits of moving your body far exceed just the physical.

Exercise releases endorphins, which diminish the perception of pain.

Not to mention it also:

Reduces stress levels
Boosts energy levels
Stimulates brain cell growth
Improves sleep quality
Reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety

You don’t need a gym membership or gym equipment in your house to receive the benefits of exercise.

Think of how good it feels to take a stroll through your neighborhood on a sunny day.

You can reap the benefits of exercise just by taking a walk.

There are also exercises such as push-ups, plank holds, squats, sit ups and more you can do from your home without any gym equipment needed.

Hop on Pinterest and search for unique ways to exercise from home.

Eating a Nutritious Diet

Pay attention to how food makes you feel.

For several years now, I eat the same thing for lunch: salad.

I used to get teased for this.

But I know the nutritious benefits of eating salad, and I know how it makes me feel-mentally fueled.

I also know how junk food makes me feel-foggy-headed, bloated, sleepy.

So, when it comes to what I eat during the work day, I know I am more productive when I eat better foods.

When I still worked from an office, I used to meal prep my salads on weekends so they were always ready to go come Monday morning.

I make my salads exciting so I never get bored: dark greens, tomatoes, green onions, mushrooms, jalapenos, pumpkin seeds, some type of plant-based protein (I’m vegan), dressing, etc.

Now, contrast this lunch fare to a fast food run.

How do you feel after eating fast food for lunch?

Probably foggy-headed, bloated, and sleepy, right?

This is just an example, but my point was to show you the impact nutritious food has on your body and brain vs. unhealthy fare.

It’s ok to indulge in your favorites once in a while, but strive to eat well 80% of the time.

Drinking Plenty of Water

There are varying statistics on how much water an adult should be drinking per day, but a good rule of thumb is to drink half an ounce to one ounce of water for each pound you weigh.

Some of the benefits of drinking water include:

Oxygenating the body
Flushing out waste
Helping prevent aging and wrinkles
Aiding the digestive system
Helping maintain blood pressure
Boosting exercise performance

Be intentional in how much water you drink. Otherwise, you’re probably not drinking enough of it.

Getting Enough Sleep

The amount of sleep needed all depends on the person, but most adults need 6-8 hours a night.

A great night of sleep equates to:

A sharper brain
Weight control
Steadier blood sugar
A healthier heart
Performance boost
A better mood

Reading Books/Listening to Podcasts

I like to call reading the perfect hobby.

It promotes brain cell growth, it’s educational, and it’s enjoyable.

You can see a list of my favorite personal development reads here if you’re looking for some brain-stimulating reading material!

Podcasts are also a great tool to educate yourself and get motivated. You can see a list of my favorites here.

Taking Breaks

Skipping your lunch hour may seem like the noble thing to do.

Maybe it’s the only way you get all your work done before you leave the office.

But not taking breaks will leave you mentally depleted.

According to this article by Inc., those who took breaks had higher mental stamina vs. those who didn’t take breaks.

What Self-Care Isn’t

Drinking too Much Alcohol

One glass of wine?

Okay, sure.

Maybe even a few glasses of wine.

But why is it we tend to associate a night out with self-care?

One look at your social feeds at 5 pm on a Friday and you’ll probably see statements from friends who had a long, stressful week and are “owed” a night of drinking.

I used to think the same thing when I was younger (and less informed).

But what’s so great about waking up hungover the next day after that night you were “owed”?

Is this really self-care?

Quite the opposite, in fact, when you consider the damaging effects of binge-drinking to the brain and body.

Spending too Much Money

I remember after graduating college, I decided to “treat” myself to a shopping spree at the mall.

But I didn’t have a full-time job yet and had no business spending that kind of money on clothes I didn’t need anyway.

Over-spending is a coping mechanism for many, but it only leaves you with a higher credit card bill, whether you can afford the items or not.

Sure, it’s nice to treat yourself sometimes.

But blowing through a ton of your hard-earned money isn’t taking care of yourself.

Appreciate the Little Things

What are those little things you notice in your daily routine that bring you peace and comfort?

For me, it starts with a simple cup of black coffee and the quiet of the morning.

I’ve been a coffee drinker from a young age (thanks, grandma!), and I find comfort knowing even in the hardest of times, my cup of coffee and the quiet of the early morning is always there, waiting for me.

Many of us have experienced a shift in our daily routines as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of these shifts aren’t just temporary and have become the new normal, as many have lost their jobs or businesses.

That said, many people right now are struggling to adapt to their new daily routine: something they definitely did not sign up for.

I had my share of letdowns of my own, and I took it upon myself to focus on the good in my unique situation.

My husband has been working from home. He may continue to do so until the next calendar year.

His office is 30 minutes and a different time zone away from our house, so he’s usually not home until after 7pm. His schedule isn’t on the same page as mine. In the past, I didn’t get to see him or spend as much time with him as I would like to during the workweek.

While the pandemic has brought its share of bad news and setbacks, I cherish this extra time I’m getting with him right now while he’s working from home.

We have been able to take the dogs for a walk during the day and set a new tradition to get takeout once every weekend to support our local restaurants, among other little perks of having him home.

Be Grateful

“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions.” ~Zig Ziglar

What are you grateful for?

Gratitude enhances serotonin and dopamine-the neurotransmitters responsible for happiness.

Utilizing a gratitude journal daily will help you:

Achieve and maintain a positive attitude
Boost your self-esteem
Reduce stress
Sleep better

You can be caught in the midst of a rough season of life and still feel gratitude.

I definitely have some major gaps in my life right now, and chances are, you might have them too.

But I know this practice works because I’ve definitely been focused more on what’s going right (see section above about appreciating the little things) and less on what’s not.

A great exercise in gratitude is to do what I call the 30-day gratitude challenge.

Every day for 30 days, write one thing you’re grateful for. Then, go back and re-read everything you wrote from all the previous days.

I love this exercise. You’ll be amazed at all the things in your life you have to be grateful for! It really puts things in perspective when you are able to see all the good in your life.