It’s very easy as Autumn approaches and the dark nights creep in, to feel overwhelmed by the shorter days and the chaos of life!
We are all busy with the to and fro of school/ nursery drop off and pick up, in and out of work all week, on top of this we have the laundry, meals to plan, house to clean…you get my drift! That’s just the general daily routine, which can sometimes feel like a chore, or even ground hog day. Next comes the question/ guilt we all feel am I paying enough attention to my husband, my kids, the pets!
What about taking care of yourself too? When and where do we find time to squeeze that in? Maybe you come and take a class at The View Studio as a gift to yourself.
Here are 5 simple tips that I am adding to my day to help me find joy along the way (even when the puppy has been sick 5 times over the brand new rug in the sitting room!)
One: PAUSE and make time to stop and smell the roses!
I am guilty of speeding through my day without stopping to admire the blue sky, or look at the sun shining. The other day on my daily dog walk, I actually took the time to really look at my surroundings and noticed in October that there are some wild winter roses blooming!
Usually I am running through the to-do list in my head on the walk and thinking about what I have got to do next. Taking the time to pause a little and really focus on the moment brings enJOYment to my walk.
Next time you are picking the kids up from school or nursery or walking on an errand, see if you can spot any roses out in gardens and take the time to go and have a good inhale of that rose!
Two: RELAX and unwind
I know this is often on our to-do list, find time to relax! I am now saying to myself make time to relax.
I gift myself 10/15 minutes in the afternoon to find pure enJOYment in a hot cup of tea and once a month I get the added pleasure of receiving my monthly subscription of Psychologies magazine through the door. This is an excellent way for me to find inspiration for classes, healthy living advice and ideas for the newsletter.
Put down the iphone, ipad, laptop and make time to gift yourself a hot drink, get up 15 minutes before the kids get up, or in their nap time make this your treat for the day.
Three: Document the moment
I have always loved taking photos and on writing this article, I set myself the goal to take photos of all the things that bring me JOY. Instagram is a great way to document this.
On the days that I do feel sad or not overjoyed with the start to the day, taking a photo like this one of the Autumn leaves squishing under my wellie boots definitely lifts me. It’s hard to feel sorry for myself when I actually admire the Autumn colours against my vintage green boots and feel blessed.
Four: Find a Hobby
Ok, so these are not actually my tap shoes in this photo but if I could put taps on the bottom of these gun metal brogues I would! I teach 12 classes a week and rarely attend other classes at the studio. My excuse…I can’t find the time!
It’s time to practice what I preach to my clients and make time to do something I love, which is tap dancing. Doing something fun, creative and enJOYable is a great stress reliever!
Even sitting with your children and doing arts and crafts can help you get lost in the moment.
Five: Find your inspiration/motivation
I love a good quote, this particular quote I found in Skye on holiday recently and it was a small painting already mounted perfect for propping up on my desk. I also keep post it notes in my wallet with scribbled quotes on.
These inspirational quotes act as reminders throughout the day to help me remember to find a little bit of ‘me’ time!
If you feel like you have lost your JOY, I hope these 5 tips help you on your way to find it again.
“The body heals with play, the mind heals with laughter and the spirit heals with joy” Proverb
