Cultivating Joy for a Vibrant Life

Do you remember riding your bike for hours when you were young, or swimming all day, or switching from one form of exercise to another with ongoing enthusiasm? Did you explore and build and imagine all day in the holidays? Did you enjoy yourself?

Do you have that same energy and enthusiasm now?

What changed for you? Life circumstances can change our joy settings, and unless we actively reset them, we can dial down our joy, and life can become more like a heavy list of boxes to tick, and less like a wonderful adventure to explore.

Joy changes our attitude, energy levels, and allows opportunity for creative thinking. This is so important for supporting health choices. Many people feel that healthy choices are no fun, and therefore healthy is joyless. On the contrary, the desire for slim figures, energetic lifestyles, and optimal work performance requires commitment to healthy choices. So many people stay stuck in the middle - unmotivated or lacking energy to make healthy choices, while at the same time criticizing themselves for lack of perfection.

Health is a daily choice, as is joy.

Daily Habits to Cultivate Joyful health

Small, consistent habits can make a significant difference in how energized and happy you feel. Here are some practical ways to cultivate joy:

• Start your day with Gratitude

  • Each day offers opportunity for a fresh start. Gratitude allows us to recognize what we do have.

  • Keep a gratitude journal. Some days you may only be grateful for something very little, but as you practice, you will notice more and more that you are grateful for.

  • Focusing on the good helps the brain notice joy more often, boosting mood and energy

• Connect with People who you relate well with

  • Good conversation triggers positive thoughts. Spend time with people who challenge you to be your best self, and encourage you as you take initiative to grow.

  • Make time available to be with your loved ones. Time never returns.

  • Positive social interactions reduce stress, and increase wellbeing.

• Eat great meals

  • Enjoy your food. Seek out recipes and prepare meals that are enjoyable, and improve your health.

  • Eat vegetables - find exciting ways to prepare them that is enjoyable to your palate, nourishing to your body, and good enough to share with others.

  • Listen to your body. Eat enough, feel good. Share.

  
  

• Move Your Body in Fun Ways  

  • Exercise doesn’t have to be a grind. Dance to your favorite music, take a nature walk, or try a new sport.

  • Exercise with a friend - you can encourage each other.

  • Moving in ways you enjoy releases endorphins and fills your energy battery.

• Notice good things every day - and appreciate them

  • Stop and smell the coffee.

  • Notice the beautiful flowers, or new leaves on a tree or gnarled wood, or whatever interests you

  • Notice the work you complete every day, the office interactions you handled well, the numbers you crunched, or the breakthrough you achieved.

  • The more we notice the good in our day, the better the day becomes

• Do something you love every day   

  • Schedule time for the activities you love

  • Drawing, cooking, gardening, reading, playing, music, walking outdoors.

  • If you avoid doing something you love because you don't have time, you often spend that time scrolling mindlessly on social media, which seldom brings joy.

  • Choosing positive activities brings a sense of accomplishment and pleasure. Rest and creativity refreshes your mind, and sparks joy.

    
    

• Spend Time Outdoors

  • Natural light and fresh air improve mood and energy. Even a few minutes outside can increase your joy levels.

• Sleep well

  • Enough good quality sleep is essential for mood, energy, performance and recovery.

  • End you day with gratitude, and get to bed early enough for a good night's sleep.

  • Sleep recharges your brain so you can make good decisions, processes the emotions of the day, and allows the body to recover, so that peak performance is an option

A peaceful park bench bathed in sunlight, inviting rest and joy

Making Joy a Priority

Joy is not a luxury; it is essential for a vibrant, energetic life. When you prioritize the small habits that cultivate joy, you create a positive cycle where energy fuels motivation, and motivation drives healthful habits. This cycle helps you maintain healthy living without feeling deprived or bored.

Since health incorporates body, mind and social wellbeing, sharing, and inviting others along is an important component of the journey, and increases the joy in the shared experience.

What are you going to start today?