.Things to Do for Yourself.

Lockdown 3487 and Happy New Year.

When I get out of here,” I wrote to the group chat during the lockdown, “the first place I’m going to is a bookstore.” And that’s just where I went when the world opened up again. I spent an hour roaming the aisles, touching and smelling my beloved books and I had the intention of buying many, nodding at strangers with a goofy grin under my mask. It was blissful. Clearly, we’re all starved for joy.

While there finally seems to be a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, we could all use a little jolt of joy. So here are some ideas for little things you can do for yourself. Some are big, some are small, some can take you to Drew Barrymore levels of happiness. Doesn’t it seem she is always on something? 😀

1. Buy new underwear. You can always use new underwear. If you want to go wild, spring for a matching bra, too.
2. Start planning a trip. They say that planning a trip often makes you happier than the trip itself. So pick a destination, break out the Excel sheet and start planning. There are countries, like Poland, where Corona does not seem to excist which gives you the sense of normality.
3. Get a haircut. Even if you don’t think you need one, you do.
4. Borrow a friend’s dog for the afternoon.
5. Plant something. When I plant a single sprig of windowsill basil, and parsley I feel like in The Secret Garden.
6. Dig up your box of old love letters and browse through a couple. Sure, they can be from your partner. But, of course, it’s more fun if they’re not.
7. Mute those crazy people who distract your life. The ones you can’t unfriend because you actually see them in real life — but you’re pretty fed up with seeing their actual opinions. You know the ones.
8. Track your horoscope. The Astro Twins are excellent guides for helping you find cosmic themes. Plus, their horoscopes are fun to read.
9. Say no. If there’s a trivial social obligation that’s low stakes but stressing you out, tell them you can’t make it. Just say no.
10. Say yes. Personally, I am so starved for human interaction, I have been saying yes to every single invitation that comes our way. It’s exhilarating.
11. Take a 15-minute car nap. Better than your house because it’s quieter, plus you can lock the doors. Park under a peaceful tree between appointments, recline, and rest.
12. Buy something that’s been sitting in your ‘saved for later’ cart since forever. Games, books, just buy it.
13. Do it yourself. How lucky are we to live in this golden age of vibrators? Seize the day, honeys.
14. Buy yourself some flowers. Or send some to your friend. (Bonus points if you live with your bestie, if you catch my drift.)
15. Actually schedule Me Time. Going to the dentist or the grocery store does not count. Going for a workout or reading a book does. Literally, schedule a block of time on your calendar and let your crew know you’ll be out of commission.
16. Do an act of kindness. It can be as simple as a money donation, volunteering your time, or bringing your coworker a cup of coffee. Know a stressed-out mom? Of course you do. Offer to take her kid(s) for an afternoon.
17. Hire professionals to do a deep clean on your house. Maybe it’s your carpets, windows, or the whole damn thing.
18. Scroll with purpose. Figure out what kind of pics make you happy, then feast your eyes on only those.
19. Listen to music from high school. Anything that made you happy back then.
20. Finally fix that annoying thing in your house or pay someone else to do it. The one drawer that never closes all the way? Get it done. Little nuisances add up and just tackling one will make a big difference in your day-to-day.
21. Get together with your girlfriends. Sure you might still be confined to your lawn, but so what. Add a screen, your favorite bottle, and it’s a movie night.
22. Love thy neighbor. Either invite them for a walk or drop off some baked goods.
23. Dance. Nothing to add.
24. Make or order your favorite comfort food. Or try a dish you’ve never had before.
25. Wear something from your closet that hasn’t seen the light of day in over a year. No rules here.
26. Go outside. Never underestimate the power of sunshine and the outdoors.
27. Put on your wrist watch that you haven’t worn in years. It’ll keep you from picking up your phone to check the time, which will keep you from checking your email, which will keep you from checking your texts, which will keep you from checking your social channels, etc.
28. Drop the kid(s) with the grandparents for an evening. Or seven.
29. Call an old friend. Meaning, pick up the phone and call. Not text. It doesn’t have to be an hour-long marathon chat. 10 minutes can brighten both your days. My friend Lisa, who hasn’t spoken to me or texted for a while, called me the other day out of the blue and it was the best ever.
30. Pare down and stop feeling bad. Get rid of anything in your closet that you are waiting to lose 10 kg for before wearing. Seriously, pass it on to someone else. Then buy something new to replace it. 🙂
31. Laugh. When I need a good LOL, read my blog. I search for Elaine May and Mike Nichols routines on YouTube.
32. Give yourself permission to do nothing. Absolutely, positively nothing. Sit in the sun, listen to the rain, or stare at the blank wall if you want. You deserve it.