If I had a penny for every time I heard one of my clients say, “But I’m too busy for fun!” I would quit my job and buy a one-way ticket to Tahiti. It’s all about how you prioritize your time. And guess what? When you prioritize your own JOY, you actually show up a better, fresher, more energized you in all aspects of your life. So, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s take a moment to pause from the never-ending hamster wheel of life and proactively think, “How can I inject more joy into my life every single day?” Because I assure you, you can. Here are five simple yet powerful ways to infuse more joy into your every day.
Offload What’s Not Serving You
Imagine your life as a suitcase—you can only fit so much inside before it becomes overstuffed and cumbersome. Similarly, our lives can become cluttered with commitments, obligations, and activities that drain our energy and leave little room for joy. Take a moment to assess what’s filling your metaphorical suitcase and consider offloading what’s not serving you to create space for what truly brings you joy. Whether it’s saying no to an extra work project, offloading some of your tasks to someone else, decluttering your living space, or setting boundaries. Offloading what’s filling up your time now is the first step towards a more joyful existence.
Reconnect with Forgotten Joys
Think back to a time when you felt truly alive, joyful, and fulfilled. What activities or hobbies brought you immense joy? Whether it was painting, hiking, playing an instrument, or simply spending time with loved ones, chances are there are joys from your past that have fallen by the wayside in the hustle and bustle of daily life. Take a moment to reflect on what has brought you great joy in the past, and ask yourself: “How can I re-inject this back into my life?” Then, make a commitment to actually do it. Remember, there is always time—it’s just a matter of how you choose to prioritize it.
Sprinkle Small Joys Throughout the Day
Joy doesn’t have to be reserved for special occasions. It can be found in the small, everyday moments if you’re willing to look for it. Make a conscious effort to sprinkle small things that bring you joy throughout your day. In the morning, savor a cup of coffee while listening to your favorite song. At midday, take a 10-minute walk in the fresh air to rejuvenate your spirit. In the evening, indulge in a piece of chocolate while curling up with a good book. What are the small things that give you a hit of serotonin? By incorporating these small, 5-minute moments of joy into your daily routine, you’ll find more energy and excitement for daily life.
Ask Yourself, “What Do I Love About This Moment?”
In the midst of life’s challenges and stresses, it’s easy to lose sight of the good that surrounds us. But even in the most difficult moments, there is always something to be grateful for. Take a moment to pause and ask yourself, “What do I love about this moment?”. Whether it’s the warmth of the sun on your skin, the realization in a stressful meeting that “I am where I dreamt of being 10 years ago”, or getting to work on projects you’re passionate about, asking this simple question is a quick reminder of where you are, how far you’ve come, and that your life is actually awesome.
Prioritize Your Joy
You know how they say in an airplane, “Put your own oxygen mask on before helping others”? That is one of my favorite metaphors for life. You just can’t give others your best if you’re not breathing first. When you prioritize your joy, you become a better leader, friend, partner, parent, and person. So, allow yourself to embrace joy—it’s the best gift for you and others.
As we navigate life’s ups and downs, let’s prioritize joy daily, not just during Mental Health Awareness Month. Embrace what you love. Reconnect with forgotten joys. Sprinkle small moments of joy throughout your day. Practice mindful gratitude. Prioritize yourself and your happiness. This creates a life filled with purpose, fulfillment, and joy.
What will you do this month to inject more joy into your life?
I’m a Certified Coach that helps emerging leaders from around the world build deep confidence, effective communication skills, a clear vision for their path ahead, and excitement, passion and JOY for their professional and personal lives – that fuels them to achieve their biggest, boldest dreams.
In my past career, I was an English teacher and travel writer living in Spain and then Vietnam. I then packaged my love for empowering others, and moved to San Francisco where I led Community Events & Workshop Programming for MasterClass for nearly 5 years.
Having lived and worked in Europe, Asia, Latin American and the U.S, I have navigated cross-cultural relationship building both professionally and personally, and have picked up and rebuilt a thriving career and life four times.
I’m passionate about leveraging my global and community building experience to help individuals who work remotely find connectedness and fulfillment, and help globally-dispersed and cross-cultural teams to cultivate better empathy, communication, team connectedness and excitement for work – and life!
When I’m not coaching, you can find me traveling, salsa dancing, speaking Spanish, or cooking up a storm.
If you are ready to move past fears to develop a career and life you are head over heels in love with, let’s chat!