If you need some light, uplifting fun in December, maybe this JOY list is just what you need!
Not more places to go, plans to make, or things to buy, but things to ENJOY, things to FEEL, things to SAVOR, things to ENVISION!
Warm your hands with something comforting
Something magical happens when we have a favorite warm beverage in our hands. Maybe it’s coffee, maybe it’s tea…or apple cider…or hot chocolate with marshmallows!
Want to make it extra soothing?
When your hands are really warm, set your drink down and put your hands over your closed eyes. It’s SO soothing! Your eyes will feel rested and refreshed after just a few moments. It’s one of my favorite self-soothing techniques.
Look for one small thing that delights you
Right now. In THIS moment.
Even if you’re not feeling it.
Even if it’s difficult.
If you take the time to slow down, get still, and breathe, you can find something to appreciate and delight in right now.
Brownie points if you write down what it is in your journal!
Do a gentle act of kindness for yourself
Maybe it’s something simple like sitting down to a meal at the table, no devices, no books, T.V. off.
Or one of my favorites, eliminating a toleration…what’s something on your to-do list that you’re putting off? Can you do it now? It’ll feel SO GOOD to cross it off the list!
Sit in soft light for a few quiet moments
It doesn’t have to be candlelight. What about a wax warmer that gives of a warm glow? Or just some really great dimmed light? Or outside at sunrise or twilight?
Notice something beautiful in your day
Beauty is everywhere. Where is it in YOUR day?
Nature is a pretty easy thing to appreciate for its beauty.
How about noticing kindness, whether it’s to yourself or for another?
Enjoy a tiny moment of stillness
We all have BUSY lives {unless we’ve intentionally built a quiet, calm life and if that’s the case for you, I salute you!}
For those of us juggling households, schedules, routines, activities, jobs, businesses, and MORE, it can be so relaxing and even invigorating to take a moment just to be still.
A tiny one.
Settle into your body and enjoy stillness for as long as you can, as long as you like.
Step outside for a slow breath of fresh air
Breathe. In and out…slow and deep.
Sometimes you’ll find that this isn’t easy. Just the other day, I realized that I struggled to take in a full breath because my shoulders, chest, and ribcage were so tight.
I breathed deeply anyway.
And in a few minutes, my shoulders relaxed, then my chest, then my ribs, and I could breathe so much easier – and even deeper! – than I could at first.
Now, it’s your turn! Try some deep breathing right now. Even better if you can step outside for some FRESH AIR!
Read a single page of something uplifting
Do you have motivating, inspiring, uplifting books at hand?
This could be a bible or devotional or memoir…whatever lights YOU up!
Take it out, open to a page or passage, and let the words life your spirits.
Bundle up and take a 10-minute walk
Movement does wonders for our health, mindset, and mood. This time of year can be chilly, but don’t let that stop you!
Take 5 or 10 minutes out of your day, bundle up, go outside, and take a walk.
You’ll feel so good when you do!
I like to do this with my friends, family, and four-legged bestie. I also enjoy going solo and putting on a favorite playlist or audiobook.
Speak one kind thought to yourself
Just one.
Something gentle. Something true.
Something like… I’m doing my best. Or I’m proud of how far I’ve come. Or I deserve good things.
Kindness toward yourself is one of the quickest ways to shift your mood and soften your whole day. Say it out loud if you can. Let yourself hear it.
Tidy one small area to make it feel cozier
Not a big clean. Not a whole-room project. Just a tiny corner.
The nightstand, the coffee table, your desk, a shelf, a chair, the entryway.
A few minutes of tidying magically creates a sense of calm and clarity, and it’s amazing how one little cozy spot can influence the whole room. Add a soft blanket or a cute seasonal touch if you want extra comfort vibes.
Picture something you’re excited for next year
Let your mind wander forward in the sweetest way.
It could be a goal, an adventure, a milestone, a new chapter, or simply a feeling you want more of.
Close your eyes for a moment and imagine the version of you who is already experiencing that excitement. What does she feel? What does her life look like?
Let that feeling fill you up and follow you into the new year.
👉 Download your free printable December JOY list!
A Final Thought for Your December JOY List
Joy doesn’t have to be loud or big or expensive. It doesn’t require a perfect house or a perfect schedule or endless energy.
It lives in tiny moments, tiny breaths, tiny delights that you can choose anytime.
So let this be your gentle reminder: December can be light. It can be soft. It can be sweet. And YOU get to create pockets of joy that carry you through the whole month.
Here’s to a December full of warmth, coziness, and little sparks of happiness.