Wander & Wonder

We are often told to make time for things we enjoy or to practice self care. As much as I try not to use the excuse of ‘not having time’, the truth is that with all the responsibilities and daily to dos, it is not always possible to find enough time for something that is ‘just for fun’.

What I have been focusing on instead is how to add moments of joy into the tasks I already have to do. Grocery shopping, cooking dinner, folding laundry… these things can feel repetitive and draining, but intention makes a difference. Buying yourself a bouquet of flowers or a new plant while grocery shopping, trying out a new recipe for meal prep, putting on a podcast you love while vacuuming, or calling a friend you have not talked to in a long time while stuck in traffic after a long day are all small ways to turn something you have to do into a moment you look forward to. Even folding clothes can be better if you put on a TV show, bring your dog to sit next to you, or plan a little reward for when it is done (recently that reward has been a homemade iced matcha latte). It is not about distracting yourself just to get through the task, but about finding ways to make the experience more enjoyable for yourself!

Shifting your mindset helps too. Instead of looking at the dirty dishes or your unmade bed as one more thing you do not want to do, you can see it as “my partner will be happy to come home to a clean kitchen” or “I will be glad to slip into a freshly made bed tonight”. Of course, I am not saying to be positive all the time or to never complain (that is not realistic or sustainable). What I am saying is to find small ways to make everyday life more pleasant. Obligations will always be there, but if we can add a bit of joy to them, we give ourselves small moments of self-care without necessarily needing extra time in the day. And when the opportunity comes, those days with no chores or stressors are obviously the best, so make sure to plan ahead for a weekend road trip, a spa day, or even a simple walk outside in nature 🙂