SAY YES TO FUN

SAY YES TO FUN

No one is too old or too "anything" to have fun. We will never be younger than we are today. We do not need to be on autopilot, rather we need to have a bright,  silly, and joyful life. Our area of the country ended up with a snow and ice event, along with frigid temperatures. Kids dressed in layers upon layers to go out and try sledding. This area of the country does not get snow often so it means taking advantage of it when we do get it. This time it involved glacier type layers. A bit dangerous for some (like myself) but still we can have fun at the windows watching and laughing along with their antics. It was extremely dry snow, when one could grab some from the icy mixture so there really were no snowball fights. The kids made do with what they had. Those that had no real sleds used surf boards, cardboard, whatever they could find to slide down a hill. Just one recent example to find ways to have fun with what is going on around us.

No one wants to be the boring person because if we attempt to be the fun person, the one wanting to laugh and have fun then more people will laugh along with you and have fun also. It is okay to embrace the fun side of yourself.

Even our pets enjoy getting in on the FUN. 

They almost (I believe they actually do) SMILE when fun is taking place around them. It relaxes all of us - two legged or four legged. 

After hearing about the research going on at Duke University about how life just feels so heavy to most of us. Especially nowadays. This means that having fun and being a fun person is even more important. Fun is not a luxury; it is a psychological necessity. Stress levels are reduced, thus our mental health improves. Fun makes us feel alive so always say, "YES," to fun, even when you think you are too tired. When our stress levels are reduced by fun and laughter our immune system is strengthened and we become calmer from within.

So, bring in the nonsense and fun in life - it is essential to our health. Yes, the world has problems. we all are aware. We still must make time to say yes to fun and share the joy and laughter with others. Don't worry about being laughed at. Let them laugh. The National Cancer Institute found that people who laugh regularly boost their immune system by decreasing hormones related to stress in our bodies. 

If you and your team are working on a stressful project, find a time to just let go and have fun. That project will be there once you finish. Check out an example above. If you have a boss, he or she could join in. I am quite sure that they need the boost of fun too.

Another thing to try when you are feeling lonely or depressed is to try watching a comedy and have a good laugh. I bet it will make you feel better. It has been proven that regular laughter ups the number of natural killer cells and activates the cells that help us stay healthier and stronger. It increases our resilience simply by improving our moods and fostering creativity. 

Think about this: life is not about taking yourself too seriously. We all need to be more playful and connect with other people; just go with the flow. It helps us to forget the worries of the world. 

Try to make a fun change in your daily life, such as playing more fun music while cooking or cleaning, wear crazy socks or jewelry. It helps to give yourself a little lightness to your day. It is a small moment of joy that can can help us to not feel so worn out and tired. Actually, it helps to give us energy. If we take moments to find joy it will lift us up and help us escape the stress that is bringing us down.

It is important to say yes to fun. Say yes to a friend to meet for a coffee or lunch. Go to a movie, take a new class - all of these are ways of saying yes to having fun. It is ok to show up to a class, and if you believe that you are not good at it, it is ok. You don't have to perform at perfection. Others may or may not be so good at the skill - and it is all ok. Getting out and saying yes to having fun with others it what it is all about. It starts to become contagious. Others are not judging you. If they are, then they are just miserable and uptight so just LET THEM be. 

Find ways to have fun with others and enjoy yourselves. It is all worth it. My family and I continue a tradition for fun by going to a Christmas High Tea at The Peabody Hotel. It is always a fun time during the season when it could be stressful and not so much fun. Shopping, wrapping, decorating, baking, and the list goes on and on. Take moments with friends and family to just have fun. Laugh!

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IDEAS TO HELP LOWER ANXIETY LEVELS

 IDEAS TO HELP LOWER ANXIETY LEVELS

Who doesn't need their anxiety levels lowered some? We live in a world of uncertainty. Add to that our own personal journeys dealing with our jobs, finances, relationships, etc., there is no wonder that anxiety levels are high. Really, they don't have to be if we can only stop to remember some good reminders to help us get through these times.

One of the main things that many of us forget to set are boundaries. Setting boundaries is so important for us.  We can't keep doing for everyone else or we will be running on an empty tank. I think most people continue to do so much for others is because they want to be liked. It is ok to say, "NO!" You can be kind about it. If your plate is already full and someone asks if you can please stop off and pick up something for them, it is ok to say that you are sorry but not at this time. To be honest, it is not your emergency, so let them know that it does not fit into your schedule. We are not human doormats to be walked on and expected to drop things in our lives to continue to constantly help others out. If you have hosted the last two meetings and are asked to again, learn to set that boundary and say not at this time. We need to stop feeling overwhelmed and remember that we get to choose what is and is not important.

When we are stressed out, we have trouble focusing and tend to procrastinate. It really is our brain just trying to survive. We need to stop judging ourselves. It doesn't make us feel better. Start having more compassion for ourselves and rest. Think of all that we have accomplished and start from that point. Giving ourselves pats on the back. We all have only a certain amount of energy. Set our boundaries so that we can accomplish our own goals. Just be aware of the progress that we have each made. It does not need to be perfect. Just progress.

Everyone is going through tough times. Even if they have a smile on their face. We don't know their whole story or see the whole picture. When we realize that, it helps to soften our feelings towards others. (but not to change our boundaries) We don't need to be oversensitive and do not take things personally.

The book titled, The Let Them Theory, by Mel Robbins, helps us do this by saying 'Let Them' in order to remind ourselves that we can't control others' behaviors. Just let them...but most importantly, then know what your 'let me' will be.

Becoming the best version of yourself comes with saying goodbye to things or people who are dragging us down with bad habits. We should always be evolving which means we may need to shed things that may be stopping us from seeing the view of the new us.

Always realize that the time to do this is now. Time is always ticking away. We don't want to miss our own life so why delay things that matter to us? If we want to paint, then paint. If we want to change jobs, then work on those resumes; if we want to write, then write. Just do it and don't say to yourself that you will do it later. Now is the time to enjoy our lives. It will help to kick anxiety out the window and give the power back to where it belongs.

A quote from Alice Walker is a perfect example:

"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any."