Feel Good Friday

Here's to another Friday and another five things to find joy in that you may not have appreciated before!

1. Down time

A nice aspect of this quarantine is that there is a lot of down time. It's understandable that this would be stressful to some, and there's nothing wrong with missing your productive schedule. But having some down time can be a good thing! We now have more than enough time to "stop and smell the roses," spend time with family, play our favorite games, watch our favorite movies, and more. Even out of qaurantine, it's always nice to find yourself having some much needed personal time to just do what you like.

2. A good read

There's always something so satisfying about having a good story to read. I personally love the experience of a physical book (preferrably hardback), but there's more than one way to read a story nowadays! Some apps, like Wattpad or Episode, are popular and innovative alternatives for getting yourself into a good story, which are usually user-created. You may even find yourself inspired to write your own content! Adding a good book to your day has so many benefits: meeting new characters, going on an adventure, or solving a mystery.

3. A good night's sleep

One thing I haven't taken advantage of, maybe since I was in high school, was a good night's sleep. We've all had those restless nights where no position seemed quite comfortable, or we just couldn't stop our mind from racing. Sometimes the day before had been so stressful, that even sleep couldn't help it! And so many of us know the feeling of staying up late and sacrificing our sleep in order to work or study. So waking up from a nice, rejuvinating sleep is definitely something to be happy about!

4. Your favorite desert

Friday is my dad's favorite day of the week, and every Friday he treats himself to his favorite dessert. My mom and I also treat ourselves to some macarons on Fridays from our favorite french pastries shop. This has always been a highlight to my week, even when I've been down. No matter what the occasion, your favorite dessert is always something to smile about!

5. Good memories

I'm the kind of person who keeps everything: birthday cards, polaroids, christmas cards, thank you letters, and handwritten notes (my favorite!). It's always nice to come across a good memory, wether it's in conversation or in your own personal box of old treasures. My favorite memories are usually documented in polaroids of my siblings or in old cards I've gotten from my parents. I also love to talk with my boyfriend about our favorite memories, like having our first date, or graduating together. Sharing a good memory with the people you love and care about should always bring a smile to your face as you reminisce about the "good times."

Apart from everything we go through, we should strive to appreciate the little things in our life and find joy in them if we have the energy to do so. This is not meant to force happiness or positivity. In some moments, we do need time to ourselves to handle our emotions even when they are not positive. I'm not always positive, and I can't advocate for a strictly positive life either. It's just not realistic. However, even when things seem to be rough and going downhill, at least we still have these little things. Learning to live life with appreciation has really helped me, even in my darkest times. "I'm really upset, but at least I still have this." With our daily routines being changed, I'm sure many people have thought of luxuries they've taken for granted, such as going out on a nice day or visitng their favorite shops. But there are still many things to appreciate in life, and it's never too late to notice them.

Keep things sweet!

-xoxo, Sugar Spice