Do you really check out fully over the weekend and just relax? Or…are you running errands, juggling family activities, catching up on email, and prepping for next week? 

Many of us never really slow down on the weekends which is where vacation comes in. We need that downtime. Staycations are great but they’re not enough. Often we find ourselves still working through our normal patterns so I still think you need vacations where you are not staying in your home.

We take physical leaps of faith as well as emotional and professional ones. I think it gets easier the more you do them because you know that your fear was just a protector from doing stupid things but that your instincts are good and jumping is fun.

This season of life is bringing unexpected challenges for all of us.  Some challenges are somewhat normal in that we see them often in our world (relationships not working out, family members getting sick, loss of a job, etc.) but that doesn't make them less challenging.  They're exacerbated when you're in the middle of a global pandemic without clarity on when you might be safe to do some of the things that bring you joy like taking a trip to somewhere new or going to a concert or even just hosting a large family celebration.

We experience a "new" or "next" normal whenever we move homes, switch schools or jobs, get married, have a child or the next child, or start a new activity. All of those things change how we experience our life - what our schedules are like, who we interact with, when or how we commute, etc. The key difference now is that the whole world is experiencing this change with us at the same time. So...what have we learned from those past experiences that we can use now?

This time of year can be amazing but it can also be difficult for many - the stress of finding the perfect gifts or not having the finances to give gifts, painful memories, or challenging family dynamics. But, even with the difficulties that holidays or milestones (end of a year and a decade) bring, it’s critical that we celebrate.

This holiday season, I've become fixated on the concept of joy and how I can have more of it in my life. It's probably obvious on why we want joy but you may not realize all of the health benefits it brings you.