Focus on 1% More Joy While at Home
Finding Joy at Home
Finding joy or feeling close to joy at home is something very close to my heart. But right now, right now during this weird and scary time of history, it can feel really far. I’ve been trying to balance leaning into this new routine and rhythm of life, with staying connected to the outside world, but also staying connected to our heartbeat here. How do we set ourselves up for joy when we need it and it feels really far away? And the hard part is, I know we are all experiencing something uniquely personal, vastly different, and weighing a ton of different variables in the process. Our home state of Michigan has been hit particularly hard and our hometown has the second most cases in the entire state. I would never want to be insensitive to your current situation, so please know I’m sending you love. If anything I hope sharing these joyful pieces in I’ve found in the recent weeks remind and connect you with the things that being you joy in your home.
Focus on adding 1% more joy
I’ve resorted to getting connected with the Hygge-like beliefs of winter and pairing them with the warmer temperatures, longer hours of daylight and the rebirth of vegetation. I’ve been focusing on the senses- what am I seeing? How can we add a warm and welcoming scent? How do the clothes feel that I’m wearing? etc. I’ve been thinking, “How can I add just 1% more joy to this moment?” Maybe it’s playing music while making dinner or lighting a candle while drinking morning coffee,. Maybe it’s putting fruit in a bowl on our counter. Seriously, just focusing on adding 1% joy around here. Just a little extra nudge.
Here are five things bringing me joy while at home:
focusing on coziness & adding coziness
comforting & nourishing food & bevvies
consumption non-tech sources
living things
quieting spaces
Focus on Coziness
I’ve been focusing on how I can add just a bit more coziness. Sitting on the couch? Grab that fluffy blanket. Reach for a favorite sweater or sweatshirt. I've been lighting candles in the morning and increasing the numbers of baths I’ve been taking. Diffusing essential oils or putting on a little perfume. Wearing slippers while at home or clothes that match the mood I want to have. Again, what’s a way I can make this moment I’m in just 1% more joyful. I’ve been reaching for my fluffy white robe more and more. I’m using lamps more strategically instead of overhead lighting and I’m focusing on letting sunlight in (and being in sunlight) as much as I can.
Here are layers of coziness bringing joy
Cozy Textiles
Comforting Lighting with Candles & Lamps (Can’t recommend enough lighting a candle in the AM)
Face Masks and Extra Moisturizer
Clothes that Feel Good and Elevate my Mood
Good Sweater or Robe
Slippers & Cozy Socks
Fragrance like essential oils, perfume, candles, etc. (this spray is my favorite)
Most of these things are things we all have at home. Turning on a table lamp instead of the overhead light, reaching for a piece of our closet that will make us just a bit happier, lighting a candle, and trying to make each moment a little bit better. I’ve been focusing on natural things and nature. Plants, sunshine, air, whole foods, and simplicity.
Comforting Food & Beverages
Comfort in food and beverages means a lot of different things to different people. This may be time to focus on healthy foods that make you feel good and comfortable in your skin. This may mean warm lemon water, comforting tea, or savoring a cup of coffee. This may also mean making a batch of cookies that warm and fill the house with a joy. For me, I’ve been trying to lean into joy in the kitchen and preparing meals that we can look forward to that taste good and make us feel good. Sometimes that’s pasta and cookies and sometimes it’s salad and baked chicken.
I’ve also loved keeping my coffee very warm with a new mug. A favorite mug is such a thing, right? Regardless, sometimes the way our food and beverages are plated and contained are just as important as consuming them. How can we make our beverages and food just a bit more joyful? (And honestly this could mean frozen pizza on paper plates because you get to throw the plates away, joy does not judge)
These things have been bringing me major comfort—
Consumption of Non-Tech Sources
Think puzzles, books, coloring pages, magazines, drawing, cook books, etc. Reach for things that allow you to walk away from screens, do something with your hands, and fill your head with some joy. This could even mean getting out for a walk. Working out, listening to music, laying down. I’ve even been hunting our house and searching for non-tech items that I have been neglecting.
Here are the bits of non-tech sources bringing me joy:
Bon Appetit Magazine (digital versions are available too!)
A Whole Lotta Books (blog here) and my beloved Wabi Sabi Welcome
Living Things
Having a living plant, floral arrangement, branches from your yard or walk can add a little bit of life inside. It allows us to see and feel growth inside. One thing bringing me major joy is growing seeds. I love seeing how water, sunlight, and care helps this plants emerge from their seeds. I also was a little impatient, so instead of buying herbs already cut at the grocery store, I bought the plants and I moved them to new pots and a sunny window. It has felt so nice that little bits of freshness are available to elevate our dishes (and beverages). And if they don’t make it? No big deal, I was going to buy a cut variety anyway.
I had purchased a floral arrangement from a local florist about a week into the Shelter in Place order and a friend had also sent me flowers (Thank You, Em!). I enjoyed these arrangements so darn much while they were still living. I changed the water every day (or at least I tried my best) and moved them from room to room to get the maximum amount of enjoyment out of them. Once they were done, I deconstructed the arrangements and picked out the bits I could dry. I then put those in vases or spots around our house where I could keep on enjoying their beauty. The little cutie yellow flowers above are from one of those arrangements ! So cool!
Sow seeds in old egg cartons or pots. (Grab some seeds, grab some soil, handy yourself with some water and keep them near a sunny window.)
Buy herbs still in soil and replant at home and keep near a sunny window.
Snip branches from your yard or walk (respectfully) and place in your home
Order flowers from a local florist to support
Snap up blooms from the grocery store (I love the $5 Hydrangeas at Walmart)
Dry flowers and greens when they have run their course and place around your home.
Quieting Spaces
Sometimes it feels like we need to be adding more things to our spaces, but in reality the solution involves taking things away and letting the space breath a little. At this time we are more and more trying to work with what we have and making spaces feel fresh. This past week I took away all the items on surfaces in our family room (which allowed for a good dusting and a deep clean too!) and left it bare for a while. I dreamed of what I would love for the space (I’m putting it into the universe: a great antique mirror) and how it can get switched up. I also did this with our entry way. After doing this you can also “shop your house” or swap items from different rooms to allow for things to feel fresh and new again. I’m a big, big fan.
Take all items on surfaces (even pillows and throws that aren’t crucial) and leave them bare
Leave room empty for approx a week (it’s difficult, but more than a day is absolutely helpful)
Dream of what you would like
Swap decor from other rooms to freshen up spaces
Shop your home
Some of this seems simple, but I think that’s the point. Sometimes focusing on the simple can bring just a bit more joy to any moment. It’s a weird time and I’m sending you lots of love. I’d love to hear from you about what little things are bringing you lots of joy.
Hugs,
Meredith
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