Why Don’t You? Week of Feb. 25

Welcome to another week’s worth of simple ideas for lovely days! Spring is right around the corner but if winter is beginning to wear on you, these ideas will keep you smiling in the meantime.

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. Simple ideas for lovely days!

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.

Why Don’t You? – Simple Ideas for Lovely Days

Get your tax documents organized.

I know, this doesn’t sound like something lovely but sometimes, creating a lovely day means making something unpleasant a little more palatable. I suggest getting one of those accordion folder – forget the ugly brown or green standard office types and search for one that’s pretty! Try Chapters-Indigo for some great options.

At our home, the T4’s and other tax documents are arriving almost daily. I’m immediately popping them into my pretty folder so that when the time comes to send that all to my accountant, it will be a much easier task. And making tax time easier is definitely a lovely day in my books!

Revive Sunday dinners.

Or whatever night works for you to have a lovely sit-down dinner with your family. Yes, I know, that you may be one of those families who sits down at the table for dinner together every night (unless something out of the ordinary comes up, we are too!). But once a week, how about making an occasion of it?

Let the kids pick out a centerpiece (my daughter used to like decorating with her favorite stuffed toys). Light some candles. Serve beverages in stemmed goblets. Use the good dishes and cloth napkins. You might even want to invite some friends or family over to dine with you.

For your Sunday dinner, I highly recommend this Lemon Garlic Roast Chicken. It’s easy to make but the BEST roast chicken we’ve ever had. My family asks for it weekly!

Learn to love the skin you’re in.

Stand in front of a mirror. Name 10 things you like about yourself. Don’t move from that spot until you can name those 10 things and smile at yourself.

Next time, try standing in front of the mirror naked. It may make this exercise a little more difficult for you, but you, my lovely, are an amazing person. It’s time for you to recognize that.

You might even want to write these things down on little slips of paper. Tuck them away in a drawer or post them where you’ll see them every day as a daily reminder of just how wonderful you are.

Clear away the virtual clutter.

We are inundated with information, misinformation, and other people’s opinions at a much faster rate than ever before. Social media has made it so that in many ways, the world is “on” all the time. Of course, turning it off entirely, even for brief periods of time is such a great way to take a mental (and emotional) pause from it all.

But how about clearing away the clutter you see every time you go online? Go to your list of Facebook groups. Eliminate the excess. Are there groups that no longer serve your needs? Leave them. If you can’t bring yourself to actual leaving the group entirely, change your notifications so that you no longer receive any from that group. You can always go back and visit it again if you ever want to, but in the meantime, you won’t be seeing it in your feed.

The same goes with people you follow on social media – is there someone who consistently makes you feel anxious or annoyed? They need to go! You should be surrounding yourself with only the people who support and uplift you! If you’re concerned about causing “drama” by unfriending them, there are ways on most of the platforms to keep them on your friends list while unfollowing or muting them.

Try a new fitness routine.

This is the time of year when many of us fall into a rut when it comes to our fitness routines. We were full of motivation on January 1st, but that may be waning now. So, it’s time to shake things up with something new!

If you’ve been doing Zumba, how about trying some yoga? Or look for something that will make you feel more like you’re having fun and less like you’re working out – salsa classes, for example. What’s an activity you’ve always wanted to try? Ballet? Archery? Give them a go. You’re never too old and can often find classes geared to your particular age and fitness level.

Or look into the programs from your local parks and recreation department. I have found physical activity classes that I had never even heard of before at ours! A current selection includes Pickleball, Hula Hooping, Stroller Fit for you and your baby, Nia (which combines the power of martial arts with the grace of dance), and Urban Poling.

Go to church.

Not religious? You can still go if you want to. Sometimes there is a peace and serenity that can come from attending a church service. But if that’s something unappealing to you, then how about attending a drumming circle or a meditation session?

Already go to church regularly? Try a new one. Try a different church within your own faith or a faith you’ve never experienced. When I was an adolescent, my parents took me to visit multiple different faiths and it was a wonderful experience. It opened my eyes to the beliefs of others and helped me choose for myself which was the right one for me. At the very least, going to a service that is unfamiliar to you can be uplifting and inspiring.

Look for ways to help others.

Spend a day (or half a day or even just an hour) actively looking for ways to help other people. Head out into your community and find simple ways to be of assistance. Remember, just showing kindness to another person IS helpful in itself.

Hold doors, help someone carry something, give money to a homeless person. Buy a few bunches of inexpensive flowers from the grocery store and walk around handing a flower to each person you see. Take $20 and see how many non-perishable grocery items you can buy for donating to the food bank.

Can’t head out and about that day? You can help from home. Send messages of love and support to your friends and family. Pick out some local charities and send them emails thanking them for what they do and asking how you can help further. Go visit some blogs and leave positive comments on some of their posts. (You have NO idea how you will make a blogger’s day by leaving them some feedback.) Find some charities on Twitter and retweet some of their messages.

What will you do this week to make your days lovely? Find more Why Don’t You? posts here.