21 Simple Things To Do More Of

Inspired by the initially not-so-inspiring chance to spend more time at home, this list includes thoughtful reminders that are grounding, satisfying, and essentially free.

Photo by Unsplash, artwork by The Purple Thread

More of this:

1. Before anything else in the morning, stretch
2. Feet in the grass
3. Face in the sun
4. Fresh flowers within view
5. Making beds
6. Lit candles (yes, even the expensive ones)
7. Calls to your loved ones, not because you should, but because you want the answer to something you’re curious about while you can still ask, like an old recipe, or stain removal trick, or how your grandfather proposed.
8. Deep, deep breaths
9. Good olive oil (Ina Garten said so!)
10. Music in the morning
11. And in the afternoon
12. And in the evening
13. Putting pen to paper (your racing mind will thank you)
14. After-dinner walks
15. Listening to your body and responding accordingly. Tired? Go to bed. Frustrated? Get some air. Guilty? Apologize. Happy? Share it with someone.
16. Handwritten notes
17. One thing at a time
18. Paying attention:
19. To what you are doing, where you are, and who you are with when you feel happiest, lightest, most content
20. To how you make others feel, intentionally or not
21. To the sun dancing across surfaces, creating shadows around what is still, to the time that it visits your space each day. Meet with it, bask in it, remember it. These little moments are the simple wonders that were here all along. Look for them, slow down with them, collect them, share them.

Comment Prompt:
Which of these do you already do? What other simple actions just make you feel good?

Originally published at https://www.thepurplethread.com on September 17, 2021.