Welcome to Mission #7 of our 52 Organizing Missions.
So far we’ve spent our 30-minute missions decluttering our homes, detoxing our handbags, briefcases and cars, sorting our bills and messages, and saying no to free stuff we simply don’t need.
This week we deserve a reward! So this week’s mission is all about being happy.
Yep, we’re going to spend some time noticing the things we enjoy and then (here’s the shocking part) doing them!!
Please don’t neglect this mission. I promise you’ll be glad you ignored the little voice in your head telling you this stuff is frivolous or selfish. The little voice might be surprised to discover that happiness is linked to a bunch of benefits for you and for your family, workmates, employers, friends and community.
Remember – you only need 30 minutes for the basic mission. Extended Options are below.
Get Organized Mission #7: Be Happy!
Step 1:
List 10 Things That Make You Happy (15 minutes)
First, download the Happiness Strategy: Pleasure List.
[drain file 295 show gow1](This list is from our Ultimate To-Do List Pack | Personal Edition.)
The list is interactive, so you can type into the fields and save the filled list on your computer. Or print and write if you’d rather.
Now, fill in the list – which means coming up with at least 10 things you like to do.
Here are some ideas to get you going:
- Take a bubble bath
- Daggy dance to 80s tunes
- Read a detective novel
- Watch a fave TV show on DVD
- Go for a walk somewhere pretty
- Listen to your iPod in the garden
- People-watch in a cafe
- See an action film
- Play a computer game
- Do a jigsaw puzzle
Next, come up with at least one way you can do each item more often.
Keep your list somewhere handy – it’ll be a good resource next time you want a mood booster.
Step 2:
Pick One Thing From The List – And Do It! (15 minutes)
That’s right – you are required by the terms of 52 Organizing Missions to finish your 30 minutes doing something that makes you happy. Deal with it.
Dos & Don’ts
- Don’t labor over your list. Write down whatever pops into your mind
- Do give yourself permission to do things you enjoy. Remember – it’s not only you who benefits from your happiness.
Extended Organizing Mission Options
Want to go beyond this 30-minute organizing mission?
- Download extra copies and come up with 20, 30 or 50 things you enjoy, and ways to do them more often.
- Download extra copies for the whole family. Brainstorm together, suggesting ideas for each other. Teaching your kids to know what make them happy and to rely more on themselves for happiness, and less on external highs, can be a precious life skill.
- Keep your lists on hand for regular self-therapy. If you feel a little down or need a mood boost, you’ll know where to look.
Ready, Set, Go!
Remember – move quickly, act fast, don’t overthink.
Before You Go – Please Check In
You’re now accountable to your organizing mission-mates! Once you’ve completed this week’s Get Organized Mission please add a comment to let us know you’ve done your assignment and you’re keeping your commitment.
And see you back here next week!
Update
You can get your weekly organizing mission delivered to your inbox.
Click here to sign up for 52 Organizing Missions.
Image by {dpade1337}
Related stuff:
- Article: How To Be Happier
- Post: 11 Great Reasons To Be Happy
I got as far as downloading the Happiness Strategy table, filling it in and printing it out. I too decided that filling in a time or day beside the activity might help me actually get around to doing it. That was quite some weeks ago now, and as I read through the list again tonight, I realise that some of the things on the list need to be changed. I had it more as a “to do or not to do” list instead of a genuine “making ME happy” list. I am now about to adjust the list and reprint it. As it’s the start of the month, I think that I will evaluate it again at the end of the month and see what exactly I ticked off each week.
@Lene: I love your decision to do one thing that makes you happy every day! And I’m even happier that getting organized with 52 Organizing Missions is helping to make you happy! Woohoo! ♡♡♡
I have done mission #7 and it left me feeling happy 🙂 I thought it would be hard coming up with 10 things, but found it was hard to stop once I got started… So I decided to try to do one thing that makes me happy every day!
Anyway I am very happy I started this organizing project,- I can already see that it is working. Now I am looking forward to starting the next mission which is more decluttering. I am working my way through these missions at a higher speed as my aim is to be organized by summer, so that when August comes and I start work again, I will have established good routines for keeping everything in order and be able to enjoy everyday life without any stress!
I had my hair cut, followed by foils in it. I went shopping and bought some nice nail polish for my little girls and I. Another nice thing was a borrowed foot spa. Reading books whenever I can as well as decluttering them of course.
That was fun. 🙂
This one was quite easy for me, being a spinster I am quite good at indulging myself and doing exactly what I please! But it was good to remember that although I do a lot of reading (which is my all time favourite love) I do a lot of WORK related reading so I’m going to get the guilt reading done in February and really indulge myself reading something totally frivolous in March.
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After doing the list of ten things that make me happy, I noticed that reading, getting massages and going to the sauna all appeared on the list so I decided to really treat myself this time. I have been incredibly busy and stressed for the last couple of weeks and really need some time for myself, so I booked a week at a hotel with a huge spa area. Five days of sitting in comfy armchairs reading my book, drinking tea and looking out over the lake, sauna and massages. And good food, of course. I can’t wait!
What a great task for the week!
This has been a great week! I did this week with my daughter; we did at least one activity from our lists each day. A weird side effect was that as the week went on, I felt happier in general for a longer time each day. It was unexpected, but I am definitely not complaining about it and will try and keep this mission going each week as well!
I’ve made my list of 10 things that make me happy, and I am working on incorporating those things into my life more often.
Much harder than I expected! First three or so were easy (cameras, boyfriend, running – the usual suspects), but after that, it got a little trickier. But I did finally manage my list of ten – and I’m not going to feel guilty about indulging every now and again.
I finished my list and now I pick one thing to do per week and I do that thing all week long.
Just got the email but im done already! The thing that makes me happy that I picked was my daughter that im pregnant with, so I had fun rubbing my belly and watching her kick! 🙂
Completed the task yesterday. Feels so good. Perhaps should do these more often. Watched TV for sometime. was so relaxing!!
I (sort of) completed this mission last weekend. Believe it or not, I am having trouble coming up with a list! So, I just started with one item and actually DID that item. (I blogged about it if you’re interested in reading about it: http://messieconfessions.blogspot.com/2010/04/mission-7-in-progress.html). Since I actually DID the first item on my list and doing that one took me 2 DAYS… I’m going to make completing my list my “extended mission”. 🙂 I’m *happy* with that! 🙂
I’M Happy……..today……
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I completed this last night. It’s interesting that it also took me a while to come up with 10 things. This really was a thought provoking mission. I’m glad I took the time to complete it.
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