Happy July, you beautiful people! WOW, summer has finally hit us in full swing! I don't know about you, but it seems like the days get even more hectic! Adding in traveling, visiting family, and enjoying the beautiful Washington summer heat, even though the days are longer and the sunsets are postponed, I find myself often struggling with finishing everyday tasks! Given the struggle, I can only wonder how everyone around me is doing. That was my inspiration for this month's blog, how to find joy in the everyday mundane tasks that we as humans must do! 

A great quote to begin this comes from Forrest Talley, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in California." Whereas happiness can be easily manufactured, joy comes through setting up the right conditions for it to appear suddenly." "Happiness can be brought about by a good cup of coffee in the morning or a funny movie. Joy, on the other hand, is more difficult to cultivate. It's an ongoing process that takes time." - Aren't those beautiful words? I feel more reset just retyping them. 

Find the Purpose: Thankfully, our world is beginning to recover from the global pandemic, but with that said, there is still a lot of room to go. Try and think back about the more challenging times of 2020 and how far you've come from them. Try and recall the places of light in your life that made you feel back to normal and reflect upon them. "How can I recreate that feeling?" Try and find the joy that you've had the past couple of months, and hold on to that & effort to recreate it. Perhaps you've gotten to spend more time with your family, and even in the times where you don't agree, think about how lucky you are to have them. Reflecting and understanding what quarantine has taught you can make the more demanding days more worthwhile and can help you look forward to things to come! 

Stop Procrastinating: I admit, everyone procrastinates something in their life, where it's the heap of laundry that's been sitting on your chair or the closet or garage that needs a significant cleanout, DO IT! But here are some tips to finally gain the motivation you've been lacking. Make it a treat; say you have a cluttered mess in your garage since who knows when? Before you tackle, take yourself out to grab a smoothie or take a walk around the neighborhood before you begin. That way, you can mentally prepare yourself for the task to come during a peaceful time. Think about how good it will feel to finish that task that you've been putting off finally. What many of us forget is that clutter in the home can clutter the brain. It will make you feel so much better the following day to wake up and see that the task has finally been completed. And perhaps a victory drink or dinner with friends can be the motivation to finish it! 

The One Minute Reflection: This one can be implemented every single day. First, choose a task that you do every day (like brushing your teeth or waiting for the coffee to brew), and use that time to reflect on what you are grateful for during that moment, it could be that you got a good night's sleep, or that this upcoming weekend you're taking a trip to see a friend or go on a hike. Even put up a little sticky note on your bathroom mirror to remind yourself to think for one minute about what you're thankful for or looking forward to doing! 

Don't Forget to Stretch: Stress can restrict blood flow, according to MD-health.com, leading to "knots in the muscles in the shoulders and neck." Now, who wants that? We sure don't! Stretching, according to the Mayo Clinic, Increases blood flow to the muscle and aids circulation. Improving circulation allows muscles to relax, leading to more excellent heart health and cardiovascular function. The next time you're sitting down watching TV or making dinner and waiting for something to cook, take a couple of moments and stretch it out! 

Thank you for taking the time to visit our site at Birds iSocial today! I hope you gained some insight or perhaps some inspiration on improving those little moments in our lives where we feel stuck. 

-Love the Bird's iSocial Team