We get so used to the routine in our daily lives that we sometimes forget to make fun a part of it too, especially if you are someone who gets overwhelmed easily just trying to keep up with everything (especially for me coming up to the end of the school year with doctors appointments, inductions, shows, school trips and sports days just fill up the calendar and a constant juggling act with my 3 kids). You may also be someone who has a routine involving tasks or chores that are mindless or unexciting like housework, cleaning, sorting through clothes, sitting in heavy traffic on and off all day long, a long train commute, and so on.
The lack of stimulation is so incredibly draining on the mind…. when really you can make life more exciting and add to the equation some music or listen to a motivational video, even if for just 5-10 minutes, which can suddenly make you feel more energised, uplifted and in a better mood for the rest of the day. Or find another calming mindful activity, meditate or delve into a good book. Just listen to your body and feel what it needs, then go and do that thing. This is what self-care is all about.
It’s not just chores we can add fun to, it’s everything in our lives. It could be that you are making the best of what you have, for example, with chronic fatigue, chronic disease, a hearing disability or sight loss. Life can be really tough and very challenging, and we have to make that choice to push through doing the best we can to make positive life choices to be able to better handle the negatives that come our way.
I have been experimenting with my new hearing aid to take advantage of the latest technology and using Bluetooth which is a completely new experience for me. It really is like having headphones on without wearing headphones (I like the 80s style “over the ear” ones) whenever anyone calls me or I play any songs on YouTube, which is quite cool though it does feel a bit strange talking to people on the phone with no mobile attached to my ear. Or maybe i’m just a bit behind on the times as more and more people are wearing Bluetooth headsets whether they have any hearing loss or not.
It could also be that you would like to make interactions with your family more fun which helps to make your home environment less stressful and helps to snap out of the routine a little, making your lives feel easier and more enjoyable. We have to make a conscious effort to add little drops of fun into our day to keep up our energy and to be your best self.
Kids learn best through fun and play, and the same really does apply to adults aswell. There is always something new we could be learning, and this is a great way to energise your mind and grow your mindset.
We can take control of our thoughts and beliefs, and empower ourselves to live happier lives and not let everyone and everything around us dominate our lives, leaving very litte time and space in our minds to do anything for ourselves.
Think sideways and out of the box, maybe there is something more that excites you in that direction. And do more of that in your life – be happy, you deserve it.