I am a list maker. I LOVE lists, I really do. They allow me to organize my head, my day, my life. Not to mention there is that very satisfying feeling of crossing off completed items at the end of the day. (Of course, there also are those days when it seems like NOTHING gets done!)It is also important that we don't allow our lists to become toooo long and unwieldy. After a long time of feeling like I never was accomplishing anything I realized I was listing enough tasks for three busy days rather than the one day I had allotted to complete all the items. No wonder I felt defeated by a lack of time every day! So now I try to keep my lists manageable, to---you've got it---5 or less "things to do". Of course, many days I have more than 5 things to do, but learning to prioritize the most important 5 and leaving the rest as "optional" has helped me to keep focus.
Which is just one of the reasons I like this list "5 Ways to Be Happy in a Recession". I also happen to agree with just about everything on this list as well! Here are the 5 recommendations:
- Take care of yourself: Truly in the toughest of times, the basics DO become more important. Eating well, getting enough sleep and exercise can go a long way to keep life balanced. You'll feel better and have more energy; cardiac exercise helps to keep our mood elevated. Plus, I like to use my long morning walks with the dogs as a quiet meditative time, also so important during an otherwise unsettled, stressful period of life.
- Become more charitable: I know EXACTLY what you're thinking---how am I supposed to be more charitable when I can't even afford my own bills!!! Believe me, I hear ya. But I also know they're right. :-) As I mentioned previously, I am a big fan of Kiva and their microloan program. However, there are plenty of ways to be charitable without spending much money. The article suggests signing up to be an organ donor and giving blood as two great ways (that cost nothing) to give back. Some other ideas I would add include taking a bag of cat or dog food to a local animal shelter, offering to drive an older person to a doctor appointment, picking up trash in your neighborhood or local park, or taking leftovers to a neighbor who lives alone.
- Spend more time and money on enjoyable activities: I would probably even put "and money" in parentheses because there are soooo many things to do on this big great planet that are thoroughly enjoyable AND totally free. But I completely agree with the premise of investing our time and money on DOING activities we enjoy rather than on spending precious $$$ on stuff! Stuff that we think we NEED but ultimately doesn't enrich our lives the way a new hobby, interest, or sport can. Learning to be a better cook or a new language by taking a class IS money well spent, as is a sewing or tennis lesson. I know for a fact a couple knitting needles and a couple balls of yarn can be bought for less than a movie ticket and a large popcorn. :-)
- Invest in relationships: I don't need to remind anyone that good true friends cannot be bought anywhere! And nothing beats the support of a best friend during a challenging time. :-) Schedule a phone date with your old roomie cross-country, have a special night out with your partner, and take the afternoon off to treat the kids to an impromptu picnic. Laughter and kisses and creating happy memories help to put money difficulties into proper perspective, I assure you.
- Focus on what you're grateful for: "One day at a time"---this is my mantra during good times and bad. The concept of a gratitude journal is nothing new, and I am grateful for learning about it rather early in my life. Because remembering to step back every day and looking for the positive will change your life. If even on what seems to be the most hopeless of days I can still manage to find three or five or ten things to be grateful for, then I am a lucky, lucky person. And when I feel myself becoming anxious about when I'll be assigned my next work project, I ask "Do we have everything we need TODAY?" The answer is almost always yes. And that alone is a huge thing to be grateful for.
Be happy.
