How many of us wish we could savor our days more? With family, with friends, to slow life down. I’m sure all of us really want to make the most of everyday. We want to savor our days. To enjoy and cherish the days we are given. This has always kind of been something I have always tried to do. I’m not perfect at it of course, buy I try to be cognizant of this each day, as much as I possible can. So, to inspire myself and hopefully you the reader, here are some ideas for making the most of everyday.
Chronicle what you do everyday, or make a list.
I love lists and chronicles of everyday things I do. This has always been a love of mine…ever since I was a little girl. I’m not sure what actually sparked a love of list-making and chronicle keeping(my Mom is a list-maker as well), but one thing is for sure, it has to be one of my favorite things to do.
I remember keeping notebooks of lists (which I still do). A notebook detailing almost your every move. When you have a notebook like this, you can easily look back at prior days and see what you have cooked, when you vacuumed last, if you paid that bill. Writing on my daily list even the most mundane things, helps me to actually do those items, because it is so specific. And I also love filling in the little square I had drawn, beside the task, showing I have completed that item. Pure satisfaction.
Today, I now keep a daily notebook of everything I do everyday, like I mentioned above, but kind of scrapbook like style. I usually use one page per day to record what I am reading, that day’s menu, tips, sustainability wins for the day, my daily devotion, how many glasses of water I drank, what I did to exercise, and on and on. It is like a daily ritual. Why do this you say? Well, let me explain.
For most of my life I have been very interested in simple things, making the most of life, enjoying the little things; you get the point. I remember buying a book when I was 12 or 13, when I was at my Granny’s house in Arkansas, titled 14,000 Things To Be Happy About by Barbara Ann Kipfer. I remember thinking when I bought this book, with my very own money, that I was different from my other friends; maybe a little embarrassed. I decided I wouldn’t tell my friends about this side of myself; they might make fun of me. I was only a young teen after all. But, that book was the first book, in my large collection of Non-Fiction books, I would continue to collect for the rest of my life.
Since that day, I have collected every book Ms. Kipfer has wrote that I could get my hands on. This book showed me how much in our daily lives that we either take for granted or don’t even notice or pay attention to. Yes, while these things are small things in our lives, and relationships and people are important too, but noticing all those little things keeps you grateful. Grateful for the little things, people, situations, places, ideas, etc.
So how can you make the most of everyday and apply these ideas to your life? Keep a notebook, preferably small (like a small 4 x 6 inch) with you everywhere you go for 30 days. Keep it in your purse or bag, or even your pocket. (Just so you know, I did this for a year one year, and still have the notebook–it was one of those tiny composition little notebooks). Everyday, throughout your day, or just in the evenings before bed, write down as many things as you can that were good that day, whether they be tangible or intangible. Some may be an act of kindness someone did for you. The idea of this daily practice is to not only make it a habit, but it forces you to look at all the good things in your life, thus making you more grateful and more positive attitude. Gratefulness and a positive outlook make you a happier person. Who doesn’t want that?
So now that I’ve explained this practice, I’ll go first…good music, London Grammar radio, evenings with my husband, making blooming onions for supper for the first time, getting a phone call from my Momma, getting good news, etc etc. What are you thankful for today or what are some good things today?
List-making is a great way to savor the day, but also living in the moment. It is something you can look back on later, and re-cherish those memories. I have heard Oprah talk about this for years, and it is so true. Being present within each moment. Not letting distraction get the best of you. Stay focused on what is going on in the moment. Right here, right now.
Journalling
While I don’t long-form journal everyday anymore (I would love to again), I do write in my 5 Year Diary, little highlights from the day. Everyday I look forward to jotting a few lines down, whether they were big or small, it doesn’t matter.
A few weeks ago, I read my to Husband, a few entries from this time last year. There were entries about things we did with the sheep, when we got hay, when the tree fell on our house, and little love notes about my Hubby and how I am so blessed. He couldn’t believe I wrote all that down. I told him I love doing things like this. He really thought it was neat, which made me feel good, and reassured me it wasn’t just a dumb little thing I like to do. It had meaning, and will be neat to go back and read 1 year, 5 years, 20 years down the road.
Be present for the moments, especially the important ones.
I remember being at school parties for my children, and seeing parents on their phones while the Valentine or Halloween party was going on. This was always a pet peeve of mine. I wanted to be fully present at my kids’ classroom parties. Helping the teacher, and enjoying the sheer delight and happiness on my kids’ faces that their Mom was there and having fun too. But every time I walked in a classroom on party day, I would see parents(not all parents did this) lined up along the walls of the classroom, looking down at their phones. They did this the entire time the party was going on, and would only look up when their excited child approached them to show them something. I vowed to always make it a point to leave my phone in my car every single time. Now I’m not at all saying I did it perfectly, or was better than any parent there, but for me, it was important to me to savor those few moments with my children, take pictures and be a helpful classroom mom. Now today, I have great memories and no regrets when it comes to attending the kids’ classroom parties or Play Days.
Another situation where I try to savor the moment, is when I am getting my hair done. I love getting my hair washed, dried, and styled. So during the wash, the dry and style, I don’t talk to the beautician and sit with my eyes closed and enjoy the pampering. But when she is putting my color on, we do talk, catching up since the last time I saw her.
I hope these ideas help you to savor more of your days. This is something I work on every day. I will say, one of the places I am bad at savoring the day is when I am at work. When I am at my day job, I am all business, and focused on what the priorities for the day are. Many of my co-workers stop by and see me all the time, and sometimes I am bad at taking time to chat with them. I am thankful to work in a place where I am sooo happy and love all the people I work with. But I do need to improve at saying Good morning, how are you? before just jumping into work talk. A few people will say to me after I have just jumped into work talk, Good morning, how are you Libby?. I am just so focused on the tasks at hand. Last year, someone told me jokingly I was stuck up. That I walk down the hall with a bad look on my face. I was like, really?? He said, yes Libby, you look like you are mad at someone, but we know you aren’t that you are just focused and on a mission. I am thankful my co-workers understand me….maybe.
I said all that to say this, stop and smell the roses. Literally. Take the time to say Hi to someone, to compliment someone, to talk to someone. It only takes a second to say Hi. That is only one second of your day, and it will be worth it to make those connections with people.
Share below in the comments some ideas you have for savoring the day more. Happy savoring!
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