Create a Joy Menu

September 2022

What do you love to do? What brings you joy?

When we are busy caregiving or dealing with stress, it is easy to lose touch of the things we love to do. We are so focused on taking care of others that our own needs and desires fall by the wayside. 

I would like to challenge you to create a JOY MENU for yourself. This is simply a list of ten things you love to do for yourself, ten things that bring you joy. It could be taking a walk, petting the dog, sitting under a tree reading a favorite book….no joyful thing is too small to add to your joy menu!

Once you have created your joy menu, put it somewhere you can see it every day. Hang it on the fridge or next to the bathroom mirror. Make an extra copy and carry it with you. That way you can take a joyful time out wherever you happen to be.

Do one of the things on your joy menu daily. And here’s the real challenge- make time to do more of the items on the joy menu when you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed. How, you ask? Just do it. Make it a habit to make time for yourself, no matter what is going on. When you are stressed, you need to care for yourself more than ever. Make it happen!!