Life was once easy to just simply go do our favorite things without thinking too much about them. Life has changed now but that doesn't mean you have to sacrifice happiness. It’s madness, and we never would’ve believed you if you’d told us. But, there you have it - the supermarket or other essential stores are, quite literally, the scope of our social lives right now. Here are some easy things you can do to make life a bit happier right now.
Sad as it is, though, this is the world we’re living in, and it certainly doesn’t look set to change anytime soon. With that in mind, it’s time to start taking pleasure where you can and finding ways to make life a little more joyous. Obviously, with Covid-19 still very much on the rampage, you need to be safe and not jaunt off just because. But, if you’re heading to the shop anyway, why shouldn’t you use it to bring a little sparkle into these otherwise samey days?
Here, we’re going to look at some of the easy things you can do to make yourself happier right now, despite the challenges posed by the epidemic.
Use The Excuse To Spruce Up Your Car
With most of us working from home and not even getting out to see friends or family, our cars are falling into some not-so-subtle disrepair. At the very least, we’ve let car washing slide and our interiors are likely a little messy, too. After all, who’s going to see them? Well, you for one! In fact, your car is one of only two guaranteed safe spaces right now, so make the most of it.
Instead of leaving things to rack and ruin, take the time to wash those exteriors and freshen your interiors with one of those mini car vacuums, or even one of these custom air fresheners for a scent-filled treat every time you take a (rare) trip. These may seem like small steps but, trust us, you’ll feel a whole lot better each time you head out for having taken them. You may even find that your car starts to feel like a home away from home (We do need to take our joys where we can get them, after all…) At the very least, this is a good way to fill a few of these mindless days.
Buy Yourself a Treat
Thankfully we have e-commerce options where you can buy yourself a treat - whether that's an ice cream sundae or a new phone. This isn't sustainable and if you end up buying yourself too many sundaes it could lead to unfortunate consequences, but this is certainly an easy way to increase happiness for a few moments.
The trick is to keep it small so that you can treat yourself without once having to go out of your way/put yourself at risk.
Take a Trip and Spend Some Time Exploring Nature
To keep your sanity, it’s also worth taking this chance to get out in nature where you can. After all, exercise and essentials are both allowed, so killing two birds with one stone is definitely a good idea. What’s more, knowing that you get to spend a little time in the open will see you much more positive about heading out for such seemingly bland reasons.
Again, safety should be key here, so make sure to choose remote locations that are somewhere in your local area. Once you’ve settled on the right spot, take a little break there before doing your shopping, and enjoy the relief that some time in nature can bring. Listen to the birds, feel the breeze on your face, and take the time to recalibrate before braving the shelves of your local supermarket. Then, head home and do it all again next time.
We’re not saying that these steps will take you back to your before-time trips into the wild, but the sad fact is that nothing can do that right now. Luckily, by taking the time to find joy in the outings that you do still get to embrace, you can at least tide yourself over until this ‘new normal’ normalizes at last.
