Keep On Laughing
Inject some fun, laughter and love into family life, says Una Rice
It’s nice to think that every year is the year of the family, as most of us wish to usher in more opportunities, love, and laughter into family life. So if it’s all become a bit serious, now might be the time to channel and adapt some fresh energy to ensure your family has a great year, by spending quality time together and having some laughs.
1>> LAUGH SOME MORE
Try to start the day on a happy note, preferably with a bout of laughter. According to some academics laughter has positive physiological effects, when it’s done on a regular basis, either spontaneously or with intent. It may also have effects on those things that drag us down – stress, anxiety and depression.
One theory suggests that the body doesn’t really differentiate between laughing with intent versus laughing instinctively. It’s all good for us.
Why not crank up the radio in the morning, not with the news, which can pull you right down, but with something vastly more light-hearted. Or click onto some old favourite comedy videos or podcasts to have playing in the background. Dave Allen or Victoria Wood, anyone?
2>> GIGGLE GURU
And while we are on the subject of laughter, Madan Kataria is a name worth remembering. He is the yoga guru accredited with creating Yoga Laughter – combining calming breathing and movement technique with his “belly laughs” For the more serious family member, you could always leave a copy of the Laugh for No Reason by Kataria, who has been nicknamed the guru of giggling.
3>> MAKE A ZEN ZONE
If the children are all grown up and have flown the nest, you may have a spare room or two, and a suggestion may be to turn a space in your home into a new zen area, that family members can access and retreat to. to simply pause and reset. Your zen zone should therefore be TV free. Bring on the soft furnishings, lots of potted plants, aromatherapy scents, chimes or bells, and an indoor water feature. You want to create an ambience of calm with soft lighting, flickering candles and sounds that are pleasing to the ear. This can be the essential space within your home or your garden house or log cabin where you can shut the door on the world and create a feeling of chilled out, from within, which is the basis of feeling lighter and happier.
Make a strict rule for your zen zone – no negative talk or arguments. Laughter and love allowed in abundance though.
4>> GET A QUOTE
Often something as small as drawing on words of inspiration can have an exalting effect – they just help you sharpen your clarity.
You might have a favourite author who has a way of stating something that you immediately feel lifted from. It’s worth capturing quotes you like and writing them out on post-it notes and sticking them all over the place – like kitchen units or the fridge. Here are some for starters: No one is you, and that’s your power. Until you call the subconscious conscious, it will dictate your life and you will call it fate. The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
There is nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so. Or, you could always print out your favourite quotes, or leave a copy of a famous quotes book on a table in your Zen room. The important thing is to read the quotes frequently to lift your spirits and remind yourself to be mindful and happy.
5>> ALL GOING TO PLAN
Ever considered going into business with your family? You may never have considered before, the possibility of working with your partner or your adult children, but often combining talents, skills, experience and ideas can be extremely beneficial. Whether you turn a house you own into a themed AirBnB, or hand make resin earrings for occasions, or create a range of skin products based on your love of organic herbs or flowers, there are probably areas of interest that you and your family haven’t tapped into yet, but could give you great focus and enjoyment over the following year. Developing a family business can be daunting and a challenge of course, but it could bring you together too and help you all to bond.
6>> STRESS BUFFER
If your family needs vastly more light-heartedness and laughter, you can of course always create stress buffers – those ideas that once adopted are a determined and conscious approach to making things better, by continually pushing away the negatives. Start with something as simple as journaling each morning – simply getting a special hardback notebook to write down your dreams and goals, as well as a list of things you are grateful for. Expressing gratitude on paper, even a short list of five or six things, can really turn around moodiness or a feeling of dissatisfaction or gloom.
My Life Goals Journal by author Andrea Hayes is brimming with wellness strategies designed to bring you through the year with transformative habits. Combined with relaxation and meditation, you can really tap into a new way of living that elevates enjoyment of family life.
QUICK PICK-UPS for families
1>> Look back on funny family photos – make a fun collage. Have some printed onto mugs for each family member.
2>> Book a family trip to a new destination. Be spontaneous. Book the type of accommodation you’ve never used before.
3>> Host a Sunday dinner where everyone exchanges small thoughtful gifts. Repeat monthly.
4>> Diarise a ‘family day’ for grown up family, partners and grandchildren. Meet up at a special spot, coastal or forest. Bring flasks and snacks. After a brisk walk, enjoy an early spring picnic.
5>> Organise a surprise bouquet or hamper or a family member who could do with a lift. Or post out cards to family members with inspirational quotes or little notebooks for journaling.