My February happiness challenge, plus an update on January's challenge
In 2019, I'm trying one new habit per month that A) promise to increase my happiness levels and B) costs little to nothing.
January Habit Update
In January, my happiness habit was to spend less time on my phone.
My specific idea to help with this was to stop sleeping with my phone charging right by my bed, and to focus on not using it until I finished more important tasks for the day.
How did it go?
Well, I give myself a solid A- grade for this one! I was very consistent about not sleeping with my phone by me, and that helped me not to get stuck in bed scrolling through Instagram.
And not starting my day with my phone definitely helped me to be more consistent with my more important daily tasks.
What about Sonia and Zoe?
If you remember, they were joining me for this, and I would say it helped them as well. I saw a marked improvement in getting school work and chores done, and they had more time for reading as well.
Did I feel happier?
Well, this is sort of a hard thing to measure scientifically, but I would say that using my phone less helped me spend more time on things that are actually important to me. And that made me happier.
So I'm not sure that it was exactly that less phone = happiness.
More like time-on-things-that-matter = happiness.
Will I keep up this habit?
Yes! But with a small modification.
I think it works nicely to have a quick five minute check of my phone shortly after waking up, just to check texts/Instagram messages.
But because I have to get up out of bed to do this, I'm much less likely to camp out on my phone instead of getting started on my day.
My February happiness habit
As you all know, I'm a big fan of contentment and gratefulness habits.
But I've never actually taken on the habit of keeping a gratefulness journal. And since this kept popping up on "how to be happier" lists, I figured I'd give it a try.
I think I'm already pretty good at finding the joys in life and hunting for the good stuff, but a journal certainly can't hurt.
So, every night this month, I'm writing down three things I am thankful for.
I think you are going to love the gratitude journal! We have been saying"3 thankfuls" during our nighttime prayers with our son for years. He's 16 now and we still say 3 things we are thankful for each night at bedtime. My friend does a Blessings Jar. Once weekly, she writes down a blessing that she experienced during that week on a little slip of paper and drops it in a glass jar. On New Years Eve, she sits down with her family and they read all of the blessings. It's a wonderful tradition!
I love your friends tradition! I have had an idea for a children's book rolling around in my head for years. Yesterday, I finally put a pencil to it. I don't expect to make money. Was just hoping maybe it would be something my kids, grands, great-grands, and beyond would enjoy. The thought of kids possibly reading a book I wrote when I'm gone sparks joy for me. My friend was reading poems someone is his family had written generations ago. This made him proud of his family and also realize he may have some hidden talent. I hope to be an example for the younger generations to come.
Love the three thankfuls and the blessings jar!
My biggest problem with a happiness journal, which I've done before, is not repeating some things a lot. I'll look back and find I've said the same thing several times, which, yes, it's a thing to be grateful for, but I want to look outside the box to realize the things I never am grateful for, but should be. So when my journal gets to be too much of a strain to avoid too many repeats, I kind of lose interest in it. I really need some work in that area.
I'll bet in one month, though, you can find all sorts of things that aren't just repeats. Good luck and have fun -- it actually does help me be more grateful when I do one.
I'll be curious to see if that happens to me! I foresee myself writing down a fair number of the things-that-happened-today variety, so perhaps that will help me not repeat so much.
Well done on your first month. I really like this happiness habit challenge. I am considering borrowing your idea of the gratefulness journal......
I am too much of a worrier to not keep my phone by my bed in case there is an emergency with family!
I keep my own variation of a gratitude journal...I call it a "yay! journal". Each evening I write 3 things that made me think, yay!, that day. The word gratitude makes it feel heavy and deep for me, and I felt a little odd feeling grateful for a chocolate chip cookie. In my head, I feel like I need to reserve gratitude for those big things like family, health, love, etc.
But I am sure as heck yay-ing over a chocolate chip cookie!
Don't sell yourself short on your gratitude. I am grateful for many small things, i.e. a parking space right by the door, a picture of my grand-baby, seeing a cardinal outside my window, my favorite ice cream cone at Chick Fil-A, rain stopping before I have to go outside, etc. etc. etc. AND, of course, a chocolate chip cookie or a peanut butter blossom!!
Be well and content,
Vicky
I like your *yay* idea! I agree that it feels like gratitude should be reserved for the big things you mentioned. And repeating things was also a problem for me, so I call mine *3 things that made me happy today* because like your chocolate chip cookie, one of my happy things is getting green lights all the way through town when I have to go somewhere, which definitely makes me happy but doesn't rise to the level of family or health on a gratitude scale.
Haha, I feel like I can be grateful for small and big things alike! But you do what works for you, of course. "Yay" is good too.
Love this! I've started leaving my phone at the house when I go for walks or to the gym. It's some much-needed screen-free time, especially because I work from the computer all day.
I finished Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project a few weeks ago. This week I started "Happier At Home," and I love it!
One thing I've taken away from it so far is to live the Bigger Life. Too often I chicken out of doing something cool or new because ... well, I'm just lily-livered, I guess. But the call to action to "live the bigger life" really struck a cord with me.
This month I've been doing things I wouldn't normally do. Most of it has to do with growing my business, but I'm also doing new things like cooking classes. Sometimes you just gotta do what scares you, because you need to live a little. 😉
That's gold
Excellent job with the first month phone challenge! I know it is hard not to have a phone at your fingertips. Good for the girls too!!!!
As for this month, good luck with this gratefulness journal challenge. I find it an excellent way of keeping things in perspective for myself. I may try this challenge as well because even if I am not totally successful, I will be better/more content for trying.
I enjoy keeping a thankful journal for two reasons, it helps me think about what I'm grateful for and I like to look back over it as a reminder to all the ways God has been faithful and provided.
I hate mobile phones with a vengeance. I have a hearing loss and they are difficult for me to use. My mother insists on asking me if my phone has buzzed, tinged etc many times a day. I can't escape this as I am her carer. If I could get rid of it I would.
I think you have done very well and hope you have a great time with your new journal.
I'm working in limiting my phone use. This week I eliminated checking social media while my kids are awake and trying to keep my phone out of sight during that time, too. I tend to spend a lot of time on my phone when I'm nursing, so after 7 months it's time to make a change. I agree with you so far - not necessarily more happiness, but more time on things that matter.
I actually find that having my phone charge next to my bed helps me sleep *better, and here's why. My daughters, awesome young women that they are, shoot me a brief text to tell me they're home when they're out late at night, and having it charge next to me means I can check it when I wake up (which I do, and you probably will too when you're older) and then roll over and go back to sleep. When the phone charger was out in the family room I'd worry I wouldn't hear a ding, or I'd keep the phone with dying battery next to my bed. Things will change when your son hits the age where he's driving and coming home after you go to bed, I predict.
Well, Joshua's moved out and on his own, and Lisey frequently comes home after I go to bed (Joshua did too before he moved out this past fall!) Maybe I'm a weird mom, but I'm able to go to sleep and just trust that they'll be all right. They know to call the home phone if they really need me at an odd hour, since that's never on mute, so that probably helps me.
Long time reader- first time commenting!
I have so enjoyed following your blog for many years. Regarding this month's challenge, I wholeheartedly recommend the book "One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are" by Ann Voskamp. It is beautifully written and all about grace and gifts and gratefulness. Definitely worth the read!
The funny thing is: I tried that book because I thought the themes would really resonate with me. But her writing style was so hard for me! It's very beautiful and flowery and I just couldn't take all the poetic language. I felt kind of like I was trying to look through a foggy window, trying to understand what she was saying.
I know so many people love her style, but it was not for me!
I love this! I really need to try a happiness challenge to go along with my journey to better health. I will be binge reading your site tonight!
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