Creating a plan for joy
A lot has changed in the last month or so. Back at the beginning of September, it felt like we were all filled with hope. We were embracing the new normal, feeling optimistic about new routines and rhythms, and starting to tentatively plan for the coming weeks and months.
And yet, just a few weeks on, it feels as though we’re having to get our heads around yet another new normal. Another new set of restrictions, another hefty dose of uncertainty, and another few months of life feeling tricky.
It feels hard. It feels relentless. It feels frustrating. It feels really bloody exhausting. But today I wanted to remind you that despite all of that, we can still experience joy and magic and happiness. Winter doesn’t have to be as bleak as the media would have us believe - we just need to create a plan.
I’m a big fan of creating a plan for joy. Often when we think about joy, we think of it as a spontaneous emotion, one that we have very little control over. But that isn’t the case - we can create the conditions for joy, we can plan for it, we can invite it in. And today, I’m going to show you how…
So where do we start? Well, in my experience, there are six areas we need to consider when we create our plan for joy: connection, celebration, nourishment, nature, nurture and play. Each has a different role to play in making us feel good, and below, I’m talking about how you can prioritise them and put them into action.
Connection
Let’s start with connection. Connection is such a huge proponent of joy, and it’s perhaps the area so many of us have struggled with this year given the restrictions. But even though we might not be able to connect with our loved ones in the way we’d prefer, it doesn’t mean that connection isn’t available.
Maybe you can connect by writing letters to each other, checking in with voice notes or scheduling regular phone calls. Planning things together for the future can bring about a sense of connection, as can reminiscing on good times gone by.
And we can all find connection a little closer to home too, by playing a part in our local communities. Check in on neighbours, volunteer your time or simply engage in a few minutes of chat with your postman - it all goes some way to making us feel more connected.
Celebration
Next on my joyful list is celebration. Again, it feels like celebrations have largely been put on pause this year, with so many weddings and parties cancelled and a looming question mark hanging over Christmas, but we can still invite celebration into our lives in other ways.
One way I’ve really tried to do this this year is by bringing in some mini weekly traditions. During lockdown we celebrated Taco Tuesday every Tuesday for 14 consecutive weeks, and recently, we’ve been embracing the return of The Great British Bake Off by baking something to eat while we watch it week.
Celebrations don’t have to be big, but when you find something to focus on and enjoy, it can add a whole lot more joy to your life. Try and find a few of your own little traditions or occasions you’d like to celebrate in the next few months, and commit to making them as special as they can be.
Nourishment
When I talk about nourishment, your mind might automatically jump to food, and while that is of course an important part of feeling nourished, this category goes a lot further than simply what we’re eating.
Nourishment is all about making sure we’re giving ourselves the things that make us feel our best, whether that’s wholesome food, endorphin-making exercise or a great night’s sleep. It’s about prioritising those things so that we can feel nourished and taken care of, instead of exhausted and rundown.
Take some time to think about what truly makes you feel your best - what makes your body and mind work that little bit better? And once you have your answers, make sure you’re creating a plan that helps you to prioritise those things.
Nature
Next on the list is nature, something I know many of us have found a new appreciation for this year. Getting out in nature is good for us for so many reasons, but the reason why I love it so much is that it gives me some much needed perspective - it reminds me that I’m just one tiny human on a planet full of millions of living things.
As the temperature gets colder and the nights draw in, it’s important to keep prioritising a connection to nature in some way. Maybe you want to commit to sunrise walks, or 10 minutes in the garden each lunchtime, or perhaps you want to bring the outside in by growing something on your windowsill or decorating your home with plants.
Either way, try to keep that appreciation of nature in some way - it can often be one of the easiest ways for us to access a little bit of joy and gratitude.
Nurture
Many of us are great at nurturing others, but how often do you turn that skill back on yourself? There are overlaps here with the nourishment area, but to me, nurture is more about nurturing your soul - what is it that lights you up, and how can you create more time and space for that?
Maybe you love to read but never get a chance to get through more than a few pages, maybe you’re super creative but spend your days with your head stuck in a spreadsheet, maybe you have a curiosity you’d like to follow but no real plan to do that. Maybe you just really want an afternoon of watching the telly without any interruptions.
If you’re struggling to know what to prioritise here, ask yourself this question: what are you really craving right now? Chances are your intuition will throw up more than a few different ideas about how you can start taking better care of your soul.
Play
Last (but by certainly no means least) on the list is play. When was the last time you truly embraced your inner child and did something just because it was fun? It’s a skill that so many of us lose as we enter adulthood, but it’s such an important factor in building a joyful life.
As you start to create your plan for joy, ask yourself what play means to you, and how you can do more of it in the coming months. A great way to reconnect with a sense of play is by remembering what you loved to do as a kid - arts and crafts, playing outside, singing, dancing, and making up games are all popular choices.
Play is so important because it helps us to get out of our heads and into our bodies, hence encouraging us to embrace our whole selves. And it can be a really great reminder to take life less seriously - something we could all do with remembering right now.
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If this post has got you thinking about putting together your own plan for joy, I’ve created a little downloadable template to get you started. There’s space to brainstorm ideas under each of these headings, as well as room to look at how you’re going to commit to action over the coming months.
My hope is that by taking some time to create a plan for joy now, we’ll all experience so much more of it in the coming months. And doesn’t that sound like exactly what we need?
