The Joy In Life

I had a very thought provoking conversation with a friend the other day about doing things that brings us joy, not in the outcome but in the process. I thought I should brainstorm the things that make me calm and contented and this is what I came up with:

• A tidy bedroom - this may seem odd to anyone who knows me because I am an extremely messy person but a tidy room is a sure-fire way of making me motivated and happy.
• Getting things done - similarly this may seem odd as I am a chronic procrastinator however there is nothing more satisfying than being productive.
• Looking forward to things - as someone about to finish their second last year of school there is nothing that brings me greater joy than daydreaming about the future. I'm most excited to travel, for uni and for moving out (although who knows when the last one will actually happen).
• Cooking - I don't actually do this as much as I would like to firstly because I am ridiculously busy and secondly because, as mentioned earlier, I am a massive procrastinator but when I do manage to get myself into the kitchen I love to whip up some yummy sugar free snacks.
• Seeing my friends - this is probably the most obvious one and also probably the most common among anyone, no matter who they are, but there is nothing better than catching up with friends to boost my mood. Give me a hot drink, some sun and a couple of lovely friends and I will ask for nothing more.
• Going to the city - I live about an hour out of Melbourne which, for Australia, is fairly close. I usually find myself in the city at least once a week, usually before 9am, and I love exploring the city then; its so quiet and calm with hardly any people in there at all at that time.
• Laughing until my stomach hurts - this laughter is not just chuckling softly this is lying on the floor begging for the pain to stop. Physiologically speaking this is good for both your happiness and your stomach muscles. Whats not to like?
• Setting goals and sticking to them - this might be cheating a little as it kind of falls into the 'getting things done' category but I think this needs its own little category. Whether it be committing to practising my cello everyday or posting a blog post every Saturday (this is the 8th week in a row and I am very proud of myself) actually sticking to my goals fills me with the utmost joy.
• Girl power playlists - nothing can get you feeling fine as quickly and efficiently as a girl power playlist can, of this I am sure. 8Tracks has some great compilations that make even the most mundane chore fun.
• Sitting in the sun with a book - living in Australia means I get the privilege of actually seeing the sun for a large portion of the year and an hour soaking up the sun is an ideal part of any day, just as long as I manage to not get burnt!

This is what I do to bring joy into my life but I think the list is no way near long enough yet and hopefully it will expand hugely with time. What do you enjoy in life?

xx Gemma