Sprinkles of Sand

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Finding Balance with Routine

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Do you dream about a total lack of restrictions on your day? I certainly do at times. However, that is probably not going to happen for the majority of us.

If you have any responsibilities at all then you will definitely not be restriction free. Obviously, the load you have to carry varies from person to person. I know my plate is pretty full. That is where routine comes in.

Routine is what helps me to maintain balance. Fortunately, I like things neat and organized. Because of that (and my tad bit obsessive nature), I have little to no problem keeping motivated to complete my daily chores.

Establishing a routine helps to organize your day and if you do something every day, it stops feeling like so much of a chore. Here are a few ways that a routine can help you find and maintain balance:

Increases productivity – you are able to get more done because your time is organized.

Keeps chores manageable – when you keep on top of things with a daily routine, they rarely get out of control.

Reduces stress – when your more productive and your chores are under control, you tend to be less overwhelmed.

Builds better habits – If you establish a good routine, then chances are you are getting a good night’s sleep and eating regular meals.

Improves health – the combination of the above four things should naturally lead you to a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.

I can only speak from my own experiences. I know that when I follow a good routine, I feel so much better mentally and physically. Not to mention there is a certain comfort level that comes with routine.

Of course, I don’t mean to suggest that you should become rigid and schedule every moment of your day or forgo spontaneity. The goal is to find a balance between the two and develop a routine that allows for both.

Jen

Cultivating Contentment

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Contentment is defined as an emotional state of satisfaction and happiness. At times, it can certainly be elusive. I am grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had to experience such a wonderful state of mind and strive to achieve it whenever I can.

I find that the older I get, the more often it occurs. I don’t know about you, but I want to experience it as often as possible. With that in mind, I came up with a few things that help me cultivate a state of contentment.

• Maintain gratefulness – It is so important to be grateful for what you have. It can be easy to focus on what we want or don’t have. Try focusing on how much you do have and be amazed at how quickly your attitude changes.

• Focus on the important things – It is so easy to focus on the small things that are annoying us. Instead, think about the things that truly matter. Ask yourself; In the grand scheme of things, is what I’m so upset about really important?

• Celebrate simplicity – I have found that the simple things in life bring the most pleasure. Sitting quietly and watching the wildlife, a solitary walk on the beach collecting shells and spending an evening stargazing are just a few of my favorites. None of these things cost anything and yet they are priceless.

• Help others – Nothing brings on waves of contentment like lending a helping hand to a person or animal in need. Watching my kitten, who was starving when I found her, healthy now and joyfully eating her dinner can instantly bring on that wonderful feeling.

We can’t control everything, but we can certainly influence our emotions by being deliberate in our thoughts and actions. I’m trying to spend my time and energy on positive thoughts and actions that lead me to a more contented state. Obviously, life happens and sometimes that’s easier said than done.

One of the things that makes you appreciate and strive for the good feelings are the bad ones. If you don’t experience one, can you really appreciate the other? I think that part of finding balance is realizing that you will experience both but that you can utilize different techniques to soften the bad times.

What causes you to feel contentment?

Jen

Embracing Hibernation Season

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Embracing Hibernation Season

If you are like us and live in an area that has a cold winter, you are familiar with what I refer to as hibernation season. That is when there are days when it’s just too bitter cold for the majority of us to want to spend a lot of time outside and the daylight is at a minimum. It’s also unbelievably beautiful.

Personally, I like living in an area where you can experience all four seasons. I enjoy the cold and snow that come with hibernation season. Being bundled up and cozy inside is so pleasant. Don’t get me wrong; by the end of winter, I’m just as ready for spring as the next person.

One wonderful thing about winter is the opportunity to do things that you normally don’t take the time to do. I absolutely love jigsaw puzzles but couldn’t imagine doing one in the spring, summer or fall. That is when you want to be outside and gardening takes over. So, one of the things I look forward to is a nice quiet evening with music or an audio book, a comfy sweater, a cup of tea, a snack and a nice puzzle to work on. It’s fun as a group activity or by yourself.

Winter is a great time to play board games. Obviously, this is generally not a solitary activity. It’s fun to make snacks and spend the evening playing board games with family or friends. There are so many awesome board games out there that finding one that interests you is easy.

There is usually more time to read in the winter. I know that one of my favorite things to do is curl up with a good book in the evening, especially when it’s snowy and stormy outside. Movies also fit into this category for me. What could be better than a movie and snuggling under the blankets on a cold winter night?

It’s also a great time of year to organize, go through everything and clean really well. January is great for that. It feels good to start off the new year with a clean slate and a clean house.

Of course, there is also plenty of fun things to do outside. Ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, hockey, building a snowman, snowball fights and making a snow angel are just a few.

And last but not least, let’s not forget how beautiful winter can be. The quiet that only exists during a snowstorm, the amazing intricacy of each individual snowflake and the sound of ice skates gliding on the ice.

So, for me, winter is just as important and welcome as the other seasons.

Jen

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