Anyone that knows me, knows that I love a list. If I need to get stuff done I need to make a list. If I feel overwhelmed, I use my framework and write a list.
Lists are great because that they bring order to chaos and I love to have order.
I was flicking through a book I had read previously called Keep Going by Austin Kleon and he writes about how making lists is a technique to help you keep going but he also had an illustration of a list of "how to be happy".
Then it struck me of how good of a technique this is and how everyone should have a happy list. A Happy list is a list of things that you can do that would instantly bring you joy and lift your mood.
Questions To Ask Yourself When Writing Your Happy List
Give it some proper thought and write down a list of things you could do that you know would bring you pure joy.
However they can't be things that would make you feel guilty afterwards. For example, I could eat a packet of cookies and I would happily do so but I know as soon as I am done I would feel guilty for doing so (speaking from past experience).
Try to have a mix of things as you don't want everything on your list to involve other people as then you will dependent on others being around for you to carry any of them out.
What To Do With Your Happy List
Once you have your list put it somewhere you can easily refer to it. For example you could:
- Put it up on the wall in your office or bedroom
- Have it saved as your phone wallpaper
- Put it on the fridge
- Having it in your notes on your phone
And finally, use it! Whenever you feel like you are having a tough day or things aren't going the way you would like just pick up your list and choose one of the things on there to do.
It won't solve all of your problems, but it will help you live in the moment and bring you some joy!
My Happy List
If you are interested to know (in no particular order)....
- Play Lego with my son
- Talk to my wife about the past or dreaming up our future
- Look back at old photos/videos on my phone
- Go for a run
- Go to watch football live
- Listen to Motown music
- Go to visit my siblings, nieces, nephews and parents.
If you have found this post interesting, please share with others via the social media links below and Sign up so you receive my weekly newsletter (Sunday Snapshot) which has links to my new posts.
Thanks for reading,
Gav
*For full transparency, the post above has affiliate links. If you click on affiliate links and make a purchase it is of no extra cost to you but I will receive a small commission from it.
