How do I plan a joyful 2023?
December 15, 2022 2:03 PM Subscribe
I've got lots of exciting work and personal projects scheduled for 2023 and I'd really like to make a conscious effort to include some fun and joyful activities in my plans too.
How do you identify sources of joy and plan your year to include fun and various groups of loved ones? I'd be happy to hear about articles, journalling prompts, organisational strategies or your personal activity suggestions...thanks!
How do you identify sources of joy and plan your year to include fun and various groups of loved ones? I'd be happy to hear about articles, journalling prompts, organisational strategies or your personal activity suggestions...thanks!
For me, setting and achieving goals is a big source of joy and accomplishment for me. Perhaps breaking down some of your personal projects into small steps, making a checklist, and then rewarding yourself with a little treat for each step or # numbers of steps. I created my own summer reading program last year with a little reward for every five books read, fun and random stuff like "an iced lavender latte" or "greasy slice of pizza." This year I set the goal of reading 100 books -- I'm on 101 so far! -- and there were no rewards other than the satisfaction of making progress (and also writing each title down in my daily planner!) I'd also occasionally post about this goal on social media by sharing book reviews, so it felt like I was connecting with others too!
posted by smorgasbord at 2:47 PM on December 15, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by smorgasbord at 2:47 PM on December 15, 2022 [5 favorites]
“How do you identify sources of joy…”
Great question. I'm zeroing in on the first part specifically.
One activity that might be useful here is to list all your energisers and all your drainers. That is, all the small things — tasks, topics, types of work (or play), sensations — that give you energy. Things that fill your cup, motivate you, or might do just for the fun/ease of it. And then do the same for all the drainers — the things that deplete you, depress you, bore you or otherwise zap your energy.
Then you can start theming, grouping and pattern-spotting in your lists.
After that, come up with ways to incorporate more energising things in your day, big and small. And be more strategic about how you approach the things you must do that will drain your energy.
From there, it's easier to create some bigger goals and projects around these themes too.
Have fun!
posted by iamkimiam at 3:29 PM on December 15, 2022 [6 favorites]
Great question. I'm zeroing in on the first part specifically.
One activity that might be useful here is to list all your energisers and all your drainers. That is, all the small things — tasks, topics, types of work (or play), sensations — that give you energy. Things that fill your cup, motivate you, or might do just for the fun/ease of it. And then do the same for all the drainers — the things that deplete you, depress you, bore you or otherwise zap your energy.
Then you can start theming, grouping and pattern-spotting in your lists.
After that, come up with ways to incorporate more energising things in your day, big and small. And be more strategic about how you approach the things you must do that will drain your energy.
From there, it's easier to create some bigger goals and projects around these themes too.
Have fun!
posted by iamkimiam at 3:29 PM on December 15, 2022 [6 favorites]
download, print, and complete the 2023 year compass.
posted by j_curiouser at 3:58 PM on December 15, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by j_curiouser at 3:58 PM on December 15, 2022 [9 favorites]
List things that you are looking forward to, books to read, movies to go to, and concerts to go to with dates. Have a list of restaurants you want to try out, so that you have it when you are generating ideas to places to go to with friends.
posted by saturdaymornings at 5:51 PM on December 15, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by saturdaymornings at 5:51 PM on December 15, 2022 [3 favorites]
I've been doing Unravel Your Year, a workbook that is very similar to the Compass linked above, for the last several years. The unravel workbook has a longer 2023 section, and is more 'woo' - there's a tarot spread, one year there was an elements theme. Compass looked perfectly fine too, just a different flavor.
I've found it very helpful for brainstorming the incoming year. At some point after I finish the thing, I sit down with my calendar app and add ideas/reminders so I don't forget the entire thing until late December.
posted by mersen at 6:02 PM on December 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
I've found it very helpful for brainstorming the incoming year. At some point after I finish the thing, I sit down with my calendar app and add ideas/reminders so I don't forget the entire thing until late December.
posted by mersen at 6:02 PM on December 15, 2022 [2 favorites]
I'm a bit more planning-oriented than the average person, but I see no shame in adding a weekly or monthly reminder to connect with people or have some fun to your calendar.
I'd try to find a good events aggregator for your location (a "what's happening" web page or even just Facebook Events), add a monthly reminder to check it out, and then every month add anything that strikes my fancy to my calendar.
I'd also add reminders to contact a specific person or a group of people in some interval that you define as appropriate - eg. I try to connect with this one friend at least once per month, so I have a monthly reminder to do exactly that.
You can block out some specific date and time on your calendar for anything fun you might want to do - eg. maybe you keep your 3rd Saturday of the month reserved for some fun, even if you don't know yet what that might entail; you might decide to spend the day lounging around the house, or going on a hike, or traveling somewhere... The point is not to let other things crowd your calendar so much that there's no room for fun in your schedule.
In short: have a calendar, use it. :)
posted by gakiko at 10:13 PM on December 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
I'd try to find a good events aggregator for your location (a "what's happening" web page or even just Facebook Events), add a monthly reminder to check it out, and then every month add anything that strikes my fancy to my calendar.
I'd also add reminders to contact a specific person or a group of people in some interval that you define as appropriate - eg. I try to connect with this one friend at least once per month, so I have a monthly reminder to do exactly that.
You can block out some specific date and time on your calendar for anything fun you might want to do - eg. maybe you keep your 3rd Saturday of the month reserved for some fun, even if you don't know yet what that might entail; you might decide to spend the day lounging around the house, or going on a hike, or traveling somewhere... The point is not to let other things crowd your calendar so much that there's no room for fun in your schedule.
In short: have a calendar, use it. :)
posted by gakiko at 10:13 PM on December 15, 2022 [4 favorites]
I can't plan for joy, personally. It happens spontaneously and it's not super predictable when it will occur.
What I CAN do is make sure there's enough unstructured free time in my calendar to allow for the possibility of joy. In that free time, I can go to that concert, go for a walk by the river, watch a movie on a streaming service, grab a friend for a chat or a free / cheap activity in town.
Sometimes joy even happens if I'm doing something that I label "work." But more frequently I need to be able to roam around randomly, either through moving the body or not focusing my mind on any particular task.
I'm retired, thank God, but anyone can grab their calendar app of choice and block off chunks of free time as it's available, as far in advance as is practical.
I also have a very clear idea of activities that routinely are rewarding to me, like birding. Then I plan trips devoted to those activities, either with a group or by myself.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 3:23 AM on December 19, 2022 [3 favorites]
What I CAN do is make sure there's enough unstructured free time in my calendar to allow for the possibility of joy. In that free time, I can go to that concert, go for a walk by the river, watch a movie on a streaming service, grab a friend for a chat or a free / cheap activity in town.
Sometimes joy even happens if I'm doing something that I label "work." But more frequently I need to be able to roam around randomly, either through moving the body or not focusing my mind on any particular task.
I'm retired, thank God, but anyone can grab their calendar app of choice and block off chunks of free time as it's available, as far in advance as is practical.
I also have a very clear idea of activities that routinely are rewarding to me, like birding. Then I plan trips devoted to those activities, either with a group or by myself.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 3:23 AM on December 19, 2022 [3 favorites]
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Starting in July 2021, I tweeted every day for a year leading up to my 15th Twitter anniversary. It was a way to connect with the travels and lifestyle I missed. I barely used the site before and after.
A year-long daily project is super fun to do, to share, and to look back on! It can be tailored to any activity and any number of people. I also recently read this article and it has made an impact.
posted by maya at 2:28 PM on December 15, 2022 [10 favorites]