What do you do daily that makes you happy?

[Anonymous]

Eat dessert!

[Anonymous]

Drinking coffee first thing in the morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Drinking coffee first thing in the morning.

Same! I love my morning coffee, I make a delicious light roast brew and it makes me happy.

Playing with my dog makes me very happy too.

[Anonymous]

Snuggle my pets.

[Anonymous]

I walk my kids to school in the morning and I have 10 or so minutes walking home to listen to an audiobook. Love that.

I listen to audiobooks when doing chores, which makes chores so much more pleasant! It’s not “me time” exactly, but I do often look forward to it.

I started getting real printed books at the library to read in bed instead of reading or scrolling on my phone. Sometimes it takes a few tries to find an engaging book to read (my standards for audiobooks are much lower), but I get them from the library or little free library so not spending $ on them. When I have a book I enjoy I really look forward to and enjoy that time.

Not daily, but there are a number of other things I enjoy - yoga, hot baths, puzzles, crafting, taking the dog for a very long walk. I’d say maybe 4 days a week I get to spend an hour doing something that I enjoy.

My kids are young and they only have one activity a week so I’m not driving them all over, and my H and I take turns getting breaks. Yoga is really the only thing I do when they’re awake. Everything else I do after bedtime. Most of what I do for me, other than the audiobooks, seemed impossible a year or so ago. We had a family emergency that made me realize I needed to protect my mental health more and really prioritized it. It was hard to get started but now I keep finding windows of time to do things.

I admit that I do tend to stay up too late. I also rarely watch TV. It’s just not interesting to me.

Could you trade off carpooling to activities on weekends to arrange more time for yourself?

[Anonymous]

Pp here. I know that was a long list but I thought of a few others - I really enjoy bedtime with my kids. Snuggling and reading books is so dear, even when I’m exhausted and there are a million things to do, I try to stay present in that sweet moment. I know it won’t last too much longer.

It sounds silly, but I focus every day on things I appreciate. If I start to feel really down or critical, I stop myself and look for 3 things I appreciate right then in the moment. Some days are harder than others but I have found it is much easier for me to appreciate and accept things without really focusing on it, if that makes sense.

[Anonymous]

You need childcare at the gym.

[Anonymous]

OP, I just wanted to say - maybe you do want to invest some time in friendships for when the kids leave. Having a few close friends is very helpful for all kinds of things! There are times when maintaining friendships can seem like a chore, but I would make it a priority to have some live contacts other than your children and your significant other.

[Anonymous]

You said you’re happy so just enjoy it. In a few years you will be an empty nester and have all the time in the world but you will miss the noise and chaos. I always try to read in bed for a few minutes and I always listen to music as I fall asleep. Good sex once or twice a week also makes me happy.

[Anonymous]

I have four kids and it’s definitely all about them and not about me. I’m always trying to do a DIY project but it’s always starts and stops. If I can cuddle on the couch with one of my kids for 5 minutes I’m very happy and then they squirm or the dog climbs up.

[Anonymous]

I give the finger to the right to lifers.

[Anonymous]

I get massages regularly. I go to the cheap strip mall places that I can just walk into without notice, since my schedule revolves around the kids and I cannot plan ahead. That way, if i get a surprise couple of hours while a kid is at sports, I get a massage. I buy a package of 10 at a time to save money.

I also wake up early and take my early morning time to do one of three things - center myself by writing emails to myself reflecting on how things are going; exercising; or catching up on work stuff.

I also read trashy but fun novels to have an escape. That is soooo much fun.

[Anonymous]

M-F I sit down in front of my light therapy lamp with a cup of coffee. It is zen.

[Anonymous]

Same. Empty nest in 2 years.

I do exercise daily. I at least WAH so I invested in a superior one touch espresso/latte Miele machine. That morning coffee makes me happy.

This is the last hurrah, OP. Just with my Senior having received acceptances and driving himself 4 nights a week to his sports practices has lifted a tremendous load off our shoulders.

Now I am relishing in the bittersweet. Those middle/early HS years with kids are a blur and a lot of work on parents. I had to force myself to do things for myself and with my husband and we really weren't that good at if for awhile. Even the summers got screwed up by the time they were teens with different sports and school obligations.

Now- I find my mood is so much better if the sun is out and I get some fresh air. I am making a point to get outside more. Most of my workouts are in a studio or on the peloton at home--not outdoors. Fresh air really is a mood changer.

[Anonymous]

Single mom who also has a busy job. I’ve always had a rule that after 9pm was my time. I take a bath, read in bed, and/or watch Netflix. I also squeeze in workouts when I can - recently, a 45 minute Zumba class that is super close to my house and a ton of fun.