What's new

Bits of Joy | Pad Patter 7.15

bestcee

bestcee

In love with places I've never been to
Joined
Dec 18, 2013
Messages
19,337
I was making a list yesterday called Bits and Chunks of Joy. The purpose is to fill my day with something happy and joyful to me, instead of checking my email or phone screen again. So, I have 10-15 min, 30 min, and 60 min. I added things like take a walk, have a dance party, listen to a favorite song, and photo walk.

I didn't add any chores or "to-do" list items. My goal was to have a quick list I can give myself a pick me up during the day.

What would you add to your list? What small thing brings you joy?
 
I love this idea!
read a chapter
look through old photos/photo books/scrapbooks
write a note or letter or poem
coloring page
I’ll be thinking of more!
 
Last edited:
Oh a dance party is a fantastic idea! I am going to steal that thanks Courtney, for when I need a pick up too! Although my Dr said no vigorous exercise so maybe it will be an 80s side to side shuffle dance party with a bit of gentle bobbing up and down :giggle.

My list would have to include reading a book (but that would take even my amazing powers of literary devouring longer than an hour so I would have to keep that for when I have a bigger time frame to fill ....
Crotchet always makes me happy so that would definitely be on my list
Walking along the beach front is a great pick me up
Hugging which ever of the kids is walking by is the BEST quick and easy pick up and has to be top of the list (oh and hubby too :giggle) .... although Tasha doesn't live at home anymore so random hug grabs from her are not as readily available, I can still grab Bella when ever I like!
 
bits of joy....top one would be talking to my grandmother.....I try and do that at least every couple of days. Next would be zone out for a bit and listen to music....I really enjoyed that when I was commuting for an hour each way by public transport so this is a great reminder to do more of it.
 
I love this!!
Picking peppers and tomatoes off of my own plants
Picking black raspberries in my yard
Dance party for sure!
Deadheading my flowers (it's very therapeutic for me)
 
I'd definitely pop reading into any of your time slots. It might be an article that you saved to read later or just your newest escape fiction. Reading always helps me, and I'm on a super big kick of reading right now.

For the hour time slot, taking out your art supplies and making something, anything. Olivia and I painted recently with my great niece and it was so relaxing just making backgrounds and seeing what the colors do together. I also highly recommend coloring for this as well!

For the shorter time slots, this would be a good way to watch YouTube videos without getting lost in a rabbit hole. Make sure you have a "to watch later" list and just pick two or three videos that fill your time slot and set a timer. You'll feel that you were able to veg out watching without being committed to a series or something.

Another one for any time slot would be to write in a journal so that you can write down not only what you are purposefully doing to bring joy into your life, but also to document all the little things that we can so easily overlook when life's weight is pressing on us.

Of course, reading scripture, meditation, and/or praying would also fit any of your time slots and the benefits (for me anyway) are immeasurable!
 
Mine would be to:
  • Hug my dogs
  • Read my book
  • Enjoy a good cup of coffee
  • Pick up my camera and photograph some everyday moments
  • Watch the birds in the yard
 
  • reading a book
  • taking a walk with my hubby
  • going out even to the grocery with hubby.. since the pandemic started this became a joint venture and I look forward to it on Thursday mornings :)
  • Lunch date with hubby
  • talking to my BFF every Friday night
  • looking out the window watching the birds and rabbits in the backyard
  • taking a few photos of the flowers around the yard
  • watching a good movie
  • enjoying a nice cup of coffee
 
Taking the dog for a walk, reading, doodling, coloring pages, playing with stickers in my planner...

Sitting on the back porch when it's not hot
 
Read a chapter.
Sit out on my porch for 15 minutes soaking up the sun and closing my eyes (usually fill it with praying). My house gets so cold (the way my hubby likes it) and I just like to sit out in the sun and get nice and hot. LOL!
Take a walk around our neighborhood. It's the perfect 15 minute walk.
Play a game with my kids just because. They love it when I suggest it.
Work on a puzzle. I almost always have one out.
Listen to a podcast while doing a chore.
Cook/bake something just for fun.
Walk around my yard and look at my flowers, animals and garden.
 
bestcee said:
I was making a list yesterday called Bits and Chunks of Joy. The purpose is to fill my day with something happy and joyful to me, instead of checking my email or phone screen again. So, I have 10-15 min, 30 min, and 60 min. I added things like take a walk, have a dance party, listen to a favorite song, and photo walk.

I didn't add any chores or "to-do" list items. My goal was to have a quick list I can give myself a pick me up during the day.

What would you add to your list? What small thing brings you joy?
Click to expand...
This is really cool, Courtney!! Way to go!
A few of mine:
patio time!
listening to my playlists
spending a few minutes being grateful and saying "Good Morning King" to the Lord.
cleaning off my work table in the studio- more inspiration comes when it is clean, lol!
 
Do some Bible-based art journaling using real media. I love cutting things out while thinking about things. I like making a mess too with paper and stamps. I have not tried paints yet, but maybe some day.

Playing Animal Crossing New Horizons - although I have been doing this for over a year now and the magic is starting to fade.

Bubble-bath and a good book or magazine.
 
it probably sounds weird but organising something, even something small, one drawer or one cupboard, so that later when i go back to that area for whatever reason, it's not overwhelming and adding to the normal stress, and i guess it's a control and order thing. it's been an ongoing project and it's not finished but for example, i don't hate putting away washing now because i know every shirt etc has a spot.

And as much as i'm a digi person, i still have a large stash of paper scrapping stuff for cards and we moved my craft cupboard and a bunch of things over the weekend to better accommodate the work from home and different online school space needs. It was a lot of work and i could have just shoved everything back in, but i went thru and organised stuff and actually holding bits of wood veneer and paper flowers (like those rolled roses and ones you'd push an old school brad/split pin thru), something about holding them, i don't know if it was the texture but going thru all those things like stamps and elements that i got into scrapping in the first place essentially to play with, that was a spark of joy (i don't get that with potato mashers, pasta claws and stuff when decluttering other areas where they are essential tools etc).
SO i think for me anyway, if i need a bit of joy or some mojo, just going and looking thru my 1 'element bits' shoebox that i can find and grab easily now b/cos it's all together and labelled, i think that would help.
 
Great idea - I’m pretty good at being able to rest.
On my list:
Reading (always)
Taking a nap
Sitting on my front porch swing
Prayer of thanksgiving
I need to add:
Looking at the scrapbooks
Going through old pictures
Making a card
Listening to a fave song (I have dozens)
Hmmmm….. I think I’ll write this down and keep adding to it!
 
On my list:
Reading
Pottering in my garden, dead heading flowers
Taking a nap
Listening to music
Going for a walk
 
Back
Top