ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO
Although we can find much happiness in savoring the present moment, having something to look forward to in the future is also a great source of healthy living.
Knowing that something pleasurable will be coming to us boosts our energy levels and uplifts our mood. Suddenly the tougher moments ahead of us do not seem so painful. Those activities/events function as both motivators, and rewards.
So set at least one engaging activity for each week, day or month as best fits, and you will have one more reason to smile every day!
Exercise:
o Make a long term list, kind of your bucket list. Things you’d like to do in life, sooner or later. Crazy ones as well as small ones. No specific order, just what comes to your mind. Be generous with your time spent on this. Add things any time in the future. Enlist the help of a friend if you have no idea on how you could make it happen.
See how they can fit in your daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly schedules.
o Make a current list of things you are already doing and usually look forward to doing.
See how that fills in those same schedules.
Ø The goal is to have at least one thing you can enjoy every:
- DAY: time for reading, cuddling with your child, a walk in nature etc…
- WEEK/MONTH: a meeting outside the house, special time with a loved one, a class, a hobby etc…
- YEAR: a trip, a visit, a gathering of some sort, a new project etc…
Although we can find much happiness in savoring the present moment, having something to look forward to in the future is also a great source of healthy living.
Knowing that something pleasurable will be coming to us boosts our energy levels and uplifts our mood. Suddenly the tougher moments ahead of us do not seem so painful. Those activities/events function as both motivators, and rewards.
So set at least one engaging activity for each week, day or month as best fits, and you will have one more reason to smile every day!
Exercise:
o Make a long term list, kind of your bucket list. Things you’d like to do in life, sooner or later. Crazy ones as well as small ones. No specific order, just what comes to your mind. Be generous with your time spent on this. Add things any time in the future. Enlist the help of a friend if you have no idea on how you could make it happen.
See how they can fit in your daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly schedules.
o Make a current list of things you are already doing and usually look forward to doing.
See how that fills in those same schedules.
Ø The goal is to have at least one thing you can enjoy every:
- DAY: time for reading, cuddling with your child, a walk in nature etc…
- WEEK/MONTH: a meeting outside the house, special time with a loved one, a class, a hobby etc…
- YEAR: a trip, a visit, a gathering of some sort, a new project etc…
