by Brooke Forry

What would your perfect “real life” week look like — one that involves real life responsibilities, but still feels restful, fulfilling, and happy? It might be hard to picture right now as the last seven months have turned our world upside down, and many of the things that used to bring us joy aren’t possible right now, but it’s also still possible to find and create pockets of happiness to get through this time.

My perfect pandemic week includes slow mornings with my family, some super focused quiet time to get creative work done and feel fulfilled, time spent relaxing outside as the crisp fall air settles in, family dinners with no kid bickering (lol), social fitness-ing outside with my local fitness community, socially distant park meet-ups with my girlfriends, enlightening books on my nightstand and audiobooks in my ears, downtime to laugh and rest, movie snuggles on the couch & showtune singalongs in the car with my kids, at-home date nights with my husband, and mornings waking up feeling rested without an alarm.

No single day is filled with all of these things — but when I look at a week as a whole, despite the hard moments and unsettled world that we’re living in, these pockets of happiness are totally possible and attainable. Knowing this helps me reframe the narrative a bit, especially if I’m having a particularly tough day.

Here are a few tips for finding happiness and fulfillment in times of uncertainty:

adapt your routines

You may not be able to work from your favorite coffee shop right now, or visit your favorite dine-in movie theatre, or go to your favorite barre class… but you can find ways to do those things in different ways. Get takeout from the coffee shop and find a nearby park to enjoy your cuppa joe. Find a local drive-in movie theatre (they’re popping up everywhere!) and bring your favorite takeout and a cozy blanket to watch from the comfort of your car. Find an outdoor fitness class or get a group together to create your own outdoor workout. It may not be exactly the same, but it’s a way to still connect to the things you enjoyed Before Times.

Focus on the little things, and write them all down

Seriously — find the littlest things bringing you joy right now, and then put pen to paper. I’ve mentioned before that I started writing in a 5-year journal a few months into quarantine, and some people prefer the format of a gratitude journal. However or wherever you choose to write down the high points doesn’t matter, it’s the act of writing them down and savoring them that helps to shift your mindset.

Look at the sum of the parts

Some days feel incredibly hard, or boring, or draining… but often, when you look at the cumulative highlights of a week or a month, it turns out that there are plenty of pretty great moments. Sometimes I also try to imagine things from the point of view of my kids: while I may feel like a week was dull and nothing special, a trip to get ice cream, spontaneous dance party in the living room, and stroll to get new books at the library might feel like a pretty delightful week to a 4 year old.

Dive into hobbies

Whether new or old, immersing yourself in hobbies can work wonders for you happiness. Last week I broke out the watercolors and just played and created for an hour; my husband and son have recently started playing pickle ball at our local tennis courts. These probably aren’t things we’d be making time for if we were running to sports practices and social engagements every night of the week.

How are you creating happiness right now? Share on social media and be sure to tag us @balanceboundplanner on Instagram.