You can’t make more time, but you can make time.

On your own, with your family, or maybe especially with your spouse or partner, take a few minutes and come up with a list of things which once brought you regular doses of joy, but for some reason have faded from your routine.

Remember the Little Things

Examples? Playing Scrabble. Strolling art fairs. Curling up together on the couch and watching old black-and-white movies. Sunday drives. Flying kites. Meeting for lunch. Surprise romantic encounters. Browsing that quirky store a half hour away. Church. Doing yard work together. A live music show. Fishing. Baking cookies. Making homemade ice cream. Visiting cemeteries. Jigsaw puzzles. Backyard campfires. Praying together. Spending an afternoon at the library. Writing letters. Reading the newspaper. Star gazing. Bed and breakfasts. Going dancing. Roller skating. Horseback riding. Walks on the beach. Trivia nights. Crossword puzzles. Community markets.

Write down anything that stirs a few fond memories.

Put Joy Back on the Calendar

Now ask, what happened? Is it really that you don’t have time? Or is it a matter of not enough energy, too many distractions, or a different set of priorities these days?

No guilt trip here. But after asking that question and engaging in that brainstorm — which should include a nice stroll down memory lane — go ahead and put one or two of those lost activities on your calendar for later this month.

Choose to relive that season when life was less frenzied and more spontaneous. Let me know how it goes.

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Image courtesy of Pexels.