Shake off the doldrums and find more joy and vitality!
1) Connect to your 5 Senses
Feel more vital and alive by going outside and feel the sun on your face and the wind gently brushing through your hair! Kick off your shoes and sink into the sensation of cool earth under your feet. Take a walk and stop to smell the roses, or pour yourself a hot bath with lavender essential oil or some scented candles.
The more you can connect with your senses and with nature, the more calm and relaxed you will become. Especially during a season where the sun is shining, a conscious sit in the sunlight for 5-10 minutes per day (just closing your eyes and soaking the rays in) can dramatically lighten your mood.
2) Exercise
Alright this may seem obvious but often forgotten. As opposed to just another chore on your list, think of some ways that exercise can be fun–perhaps even putting you back in touch with your child within. Setting aside notions of “looking silly” and suspending possible judgement, is there something you’ve always wanted to try and never have–like surfing or Tai-Chi? Think of it as a new way of treating yourself.
Or if time alone is really hard to find, is there a way to bring family members into a good race, swimming game, or bike ride to the ice cream shop? Movement puts you back in touch with your body, gets you out of your head, revitalizes your cells, and overall will directly contribute to feeling more vital and alive each day.
3) Play and Community
In our modern day society, finding time to enjoy the company of friends and family seems to get withered away. Between schedule challenges and mounting responsibilities the first thing that often gets cut out is play.
Over time day to day life can feel dull and dry, and the beauty and juiciness of life can be all but forgotten, or at best felt only for short periods of time. Yet imagine what life could be like if play was part of our daily requirement, like certain vitamins and minerals. It’s said that “Laughter is the best medicine” yet so many of us don’t get enough.
How can we create more play and fun in our lives? If we realize that stress not only effects our mental and physical health, but our relationships too, then hopefully we can remember that setting limits around work, and making space for some friend or fun time within our week can contribute to feeling motivated, inspired, and revitalized for many years to come.
