This past Thursday, Don returned from vacation and shared with us his presentation entitled ” Something to Look Forward to”

He shared that having something to look forward to is an essential element in our mental health and wellness.

When you have something to look forward to, you experience anticipation. And we have all experienced anticipation, which is the feeling of excitement about what might happen if all goes right. So, why is having something to look forward to so important? Well humans are good at envisioning something, such as a vacation, and how they will get there.

And the anticipation of something can actually increase your happiness.

Knowing that they had their vacation to look forward to helped Don and Miriam get through the times over the past few years.

     Having something to look forward to can also give you optimism about the future. Just the mental image of a vacation for example, can be a useful coping skill. Many types of distractions can be useful as helpful coping skills. And with something possible to look forward to, you may also be able to overcome a stressful event.

Setting new goals is one way to build anticipation. Don shared that you don’t need to break the bank to give yourself something to look forward to. 

Some different things you can plan:

-Draw or paint something, do something crafty

-try something new, maybe a new hobby?

-do something creative, and have fun in the act of your creating

-play a new sport

-take lessons at something new, maybe singing lessons

-take a walk, or find a new club, maybe a walking group?

-do something with friends

-spend some time to plan something fun and exciting for you!

Remember to be purposeful about your happiness, and make some fun plans for your life.  So, how often should we plan something to look forward to?  Maybe you could plan something at the end of a workday, or at the very minimum plan something weekly to look forward to. Or maybe planning some sort of monthly event would help you have something fun to add to your calendar. Or maybe try planning something that has been on your bucket list?  The important thing is to plan something to look forward to in your life and prioritize your own happiness!