Looking Forward: It’s the Little Things.
This week, for the first time in nearly two months, I had a work-less weekend. With several of my freelance projects wrapping up at the same time, I’d spent dozens of nights typing away til sunrise. A handful of Saturdays and Sundays perched at my desk. I’d eaten countless meals in front of my computer, one hand holding a fork, the other clicking and scrolling (it’s a glamorous life).
Now that my assignments have been turned in, however, my days are marked by a sudden, somewhat shocking excess of free time. It’s such an unfamiliar occurrence that I don’t quite know what to do with myself. Should I run errands? Catch up on a month’s worth of magazines? Watch a movie? Take a nap?
If anything, this dip in my workload has given me time to unwind a bit and think. These periods of rest, these pockets of calm are so rare and precious. It’s tempting to fill the down time with more work, but at busy times like this, I’m often close to burn-out.
I recently received an email from a friend who told me she’s making an effort to “insert more joy” into her life, whether that means making phone calls to friends more regularly, or drinking less coffee during the week. It made me think: how can I add more joy to the cherished pockets of my life that aren’t filled with work? More often than not, I don’t have the time (or the energy) to do anything on a large scale. But what about little things? An amazing breakfast or an hour spent browsing in a bookstore generally makes me just as happy as a night out or a weekend away.
Here are a few “little” things that never fail to bring me joy: clean sheets. The smell of tuberose. Afternoon naps. Grilled cheese sandwiches. Looking through old photos. A glass of wine. Waking up early (if I can manage it).
What’s on your list?
Aug 08, 2012 @ 09:57:56
That list was beautiful. I always think of “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin, she really shows how making small changes can have a big impact on your mood. I agree with the fresh sheets, as a kid I thought, what’s the big deal if there’s a little sand in there (we lived near a beach). But as an adult, it is pure pleasure feeling clean and wrapped up.
Other things I love: writing in cafés (ok Starbucks) by hand, fresh flowers, a clean laundry room, a home cooked meal.
Aug 10, 2012 @ 11:47:25
Writing by hand – yes! Always makes me so happy.
Aug 08, 2012 @ 13:33:21
On my list: everything that is on yours. And new stationery. Bubble tea. A good Pandora station. The smell of vanilla or another soothing scent.
Aug 10, 2012 @ 11:48:10
Roxanne, I love your list! A good Pandora station is hard to beat :)
Aug 09, 2012 @ 08:14:19
In my list: chocolate, early beach days, old movies, cats…
Aug 10, 2012 @ 11:49:51
You’re a girl after my own heart, Eva!
Aug 09, 2012 @ 12:41:36
The smell of freshly clipped grass, wearing a lot of color, reading a book that helps me better myself, and when someone else cooks for me.
Aug 10, 2012 @ 11:50:19
A big YES to that last one. That’s the best!
Aug 09, 2012 @ 13:39:30
Clean sheets and grilled cheese sandwiches never fail to make me happy, too! Some other things on my list are:
Wandering up and down every single aisle of Whole Foods. Getting lost in a book. A new jar of Nutella. The smell of caramelized onions. Mint tea. Snail mail. Pops of yellow. Identifying obscure references. Rambling phone conversations with old friends. Chicken pot pie. And most recently, early morning runs by the DC monuments.
Aug 10, 2012 @ 11:49:11
Kathy, this is wonderful. I agree with every single one of these things – Nutella, Whole Foods, identifying obscure references…so good!
Aug 19, 2012 @ 13:28:38
On my list: the smell of ocean air, walking out of a bookstore with a fresh, clean book, the freckles on my boyfriend’s face, driving with the windows down and music blasting, the theme music for Morning Edition, a pile of leafy greens on my plate, being drenched in sweat after a good work out…etc. etc. etc. Also, I think it’s definitely important to be able to fill time with complete leisure; turning your brain off, lounging, and just being. Our culture greatly undervalues those activities.
Oct 08, 2012 @ 10:24:30
Some of my favorites: jasmine, an at home manicure, anything fresh out of the oven, the sound of waves, watching football on a rainy day, grocery shopping, blue, candlelight, power outages, and getting snail mail. It was fun to write this list!