It’s easy to be happy when everything is smooth and easy.  Enter COVID-19, with its myriad challenges.  How can you be happy with all the changes and fear that it’s brought?

We have some peace- and happiness-generating tools and tips for you.

1. If your house is full, agree on ways to enjoy each other’s company without getting in each other’s way.
2. Stay on your exercise schedule, no matter what.  You’ll feel better and be happier.
3. Schedule in some personal time just for you, whether it’s a spa, meditation, or a walk in the woods.
4. Start a family ritual that everyone can look forward to. Rituals are such an important anchor for kids and provide them with an identity and a story to hold onto. Your ritual(s) can be anything from a weekly gratitude ceremony to a daily walk to a Saturday morning wakeup call.
5. Get out of your rut with your relatives, and ask them meaningful questions you may not know: 1-What was the happiest moment of their lives?  2-What were you passionate about when you were a teenager?  3-What is the change you want to see in the world?

If you do get into some squabbles, keep in mind the big picture view.  They’re family and you love them.  Make a bold statement like, “All I want is a relationship full of love, laughter, and light.  How can we get back to that?”

These are just a few tools you can practice during the shelter-in-place rule to make this time more special and less stressful.  If you have ideas, send them to us and we’ll post them.