Volume 7: April 2023

Many, if not all of you, will be on holiday next week so we thought we would share the Wellbeing Edit a week early. And with all that in mind we are keeping this edition short but, we hope, no less useful to you.

JOY: a feeling of great pleasure and happiness

Sometimes we can lose sight of what brings us joy, the things that bring that feeling of happiness, lightness, flow and ease. We can get bogged down in the daily habits and things that need to be done, saving the things that give us joy for ‘when we have time’.

We can all find and restore joy into our lives, and not simply because it’s the holidays. Restoring joy sometimes just requires a little detective work and maybe even some time travel. Have a go at completing the following phrases, just allow your mind to go where it wants. See what comes up without thinking too much about it.

1. My favourite childhood toy was…
2. My favourite childhood activity was…
3. I don’t do it much but I enjoy…
4. If it wasn’t too late, I would…
5. Five hobbies that sound fun are…
6. I secretly enjoy reading…
7. My favourite musical instrument is…
8. Five silly things I’d like to try are…

Now that you’ve had some fun remembering and imagining it’s time to make things happen.

Here’s 5 things you can do today:

• schedule some fun: decide what you really want to get and get it in your diary
• write an achievable ‘to do’ list: keep it realistic and focus on what will help you to feel more energised
• energise: what will you do that will protect and restore your energy
• bring some ease: how can you ease into the holidays and then ease back into work
• celebrate: don’t forget to celebrate all you’ve achieved this term

Not just for the holidays

I encourage you to take some time towards the end of the holidays to come back 'joy' and think about how you can build in daily micro moments (or bigger moments) of joy. Then think about the things you can do an a weekly, monthly or termly basis that will bring you joy and restore your energy. We all need to be intentional about these things because it's easy for them to slip to the bottom of our 'to do' lists.

Want to learn more?

Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life by Dacher Keltner (Goodreads)

Where joy hides and how to find it: Ingrid Fetell Lee (YouTube)

Please send this to a friend or colleague if you think they might find it find it useful too.

Until next time...

Sarah (and the Stepping Stones team)