Inspired by one of my favorite blogs Brocante Home (who was in turn inspired by a feature in Harper’s Bazaar written by Diana Vreeland), Why Don’t You is a week’s worth of ideas for adding a little something special to your life.
Pick and choose what sparks your interest and fits into your schedule. Or use these simple ideas for special days as inspiration for coming up with your own ideas. This is a great way to add a little treat to your day or week and give you something to look forward to when things are frustrating!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Why Don’t You – Simple Ideas for Special Days
Most of these ideas should take very little time or effort, but they can make a big difference in adding a little spark of joy to your day!
So, why don’t you…
SEND OUT SOME POST HOLIDAY THANK YOUS!
A hand written note is always appreciated especially in this day and age of social media and texting. Another option, though, is one my nieces do. Every time I send my grand nieces or grand nephew a gift, they take a video of them opening it and saying thank you.
Sure, it’s not still using newfangled technology, but it’s a sweet personalized touch and I can look back at those videos year after year.
PRINT OFF SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY PHOTOS.
Nowadays, so many of us have photos on our phones, but not nearly as many on display around our homes. Keep the holiday spirit alive by printing off some of your favorite photos and hanging them up around the house.
GET READY FOR THE NEW YEAR
Take stock of the old year. Add some of the best moments of the year to a journal – you can add to this year after year! For the things that didn’t go so well (and you’d rather leave behind), write them on a separate piece of paper.
You can tear it into a bunch of tiny pieces and throw it in the air (midnight on New Year’s Eve?) or burn it in your fireplace as a way of releasing them and starting with a clean slate for the new year.
I’ve got some other ideas for starting the new year on a good note here.
SET SOME GOALS FOR 2020
If you’re not much for goal-setting at the start of the year (I tend to do it all year long), I do find that these inspirational books are a great way to kick off a new year and get into the right mindset!
MAKE A DELICIOUS APPETIZER TO NOSH ON WHILE RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR.
Or the next day if you’re heading to bed early!
Here’s my most popular appetizer recipe – Baked (not fried) Macaroni and Cheese Bites
FILL OUT YOUR NEW CALENDAR/AGENDA.
I start with the main things – holidays (yes, most calendars have them but sometimes they only have the American ones and not the Canadian ones too), birthdays, and anniversaries.
Then, I add any appointments I might have already made for upcoming dental checkups, eye exams, and that sort of thing. It’s important to think about scheduling in some fun and some time to yourself.
We used to do “5th Fridays” in our home. On any month that had 5 Fridays, we would do something special as a family on the 5th Friday. Our budget was tight so most often, our family time was spent at home having movie nights, game nights, making crafts, and so on. The 5th Friday was when we went to the movies, went bowling or miniature golfing, or did other activities outside our home.
You can also add in some “unplugged” days, self care days, and date nights. Adding these to your calendar makes it far more likely they’ll actually happen!
Finally, I like to add reminders in advance of things that need to be done. For example, by September 30th, I like to have ordered our Halloween costumes so it’s not a last minute rush. I will also add in reminders to get the Christmas cards mailed, to order birthday cakes before each of the birthdays in our home, and to stock up on cold and flu supplies before fall.
HAVE A LOOK AT YOUR BUDGET.
Do you need to make some adjustments to it for 2020? What worked? What didn’t?
Maybe you would like to start one of those saving plans so popular at this time of year. Here are a couple easy savings challenges from my friend Tammi at My Organized Chaos.
If you’re looking for what’s on sale in January, here’s my list of What to Buy in January.
What lovely moment will you add to your life this week?
For more ideas, check out the previous Why Don’t You posts here.
Leave a Reply