Eight years ago, I found myself juggling young kids and a demanding career, feeling the weight of stress and teetering on burnout. Sound familiar? Back then, I was waiting for things to get easier and more joyful. Looking back, it was a complete gamble.
What were the odds of life being less hectic, my energy level being higher, or more money magically appearing in my bank account? Very low. I needed to take action. I needed to shift my mindset from “someday I will have joy” to “joy is my job today.”
So, I started experimenting with what truly made me happy and what didn’t. It wasn’t easy since I hadn’t focused on joy in a long time, but it was worth the effort. By making a few key changes, I managed to steer our lives toward more joy. Now, I want to share three of those tips with you.
Here they are:
Give Yourself Permission
The good Midwestern girl in me believed you had to “earn it” first. However, I missed the memo on burnout. All work and no play was causing hairline cracks in my life and my sanity. Giving myself permission to find and create joy was the first step in having more of it.
Smoosh It In
Joy doesn’t have to be grand. It can be savoring your coffee for 5 minutes each morning, reading a good book in the bath, taking a 10-minute walk between meetings, or having fun conversations with your family on the way to activities. What can you squeeze into 10-20 minutes a day? Joy can’t happen 24/7, but it can happen anytime. The goal is intention paired with action
Take Crappy to Happy
I hate folding laundry, yet it’s inevitable. There are many unglamorous, unenjoyable, and even frustrating tasks in life. I’ve found that if I start with the “crappy” things and ask myself, “How can I make this more enjoyable?” things start to look up. Matching socks unenjoyable? Turn on some music and have a sock party with your kids. Cleaning up an Excel spreadsheet a drag? Plan a small celebration afterward. The goal is to improve the moment by 5%.
Joy is something you need to look back on (memories) and look forward to (good times ahead). It’s your job to own it. I invite you to take the leap and make a few small changes to your routine. The return on investment will surely surprise you! What are you waiting for? Get out there and make Joy Your Job!
Lisa Even is a speaker, author, and JOY connoisseur. The name of her podcast is Have Good Ripple Effect, the name of her book is Joy is My Job, and that’s her overall approach to life! Lisa helps challenge people to think beyond their backyards, through speaking and coaching, and realize that they happen to the world, not the other way around. To grab more life hacks and learn more about Lisa, visit lisaeven.com.
