Happiness Hacks for Thriving in March
A few months ago, you and I chatted about thriving in the in-between times — those odd weeks, months, and sometimes years when we’re waiting for something great to come. We can feel it coming, that it’s almost here, but we’re powerless to make it come any faster, tempted to become frustrated, determined to love our lives and thrive even while we slog through the painful waiting period.
Depending on where you live right now, March can be one of those in-between times. It certainly is here in Maine (especially if you’re newly home from a week in a tropical paradise). Earlier this week it was so warm here that I opened my front porch, shook out all the porch furniture, set up my little sun-bathed table area, and sat in the sun for a few minutes on my lunch break. I then proceeded to watch it become encased in ice as temps plunged below the teens (F) the very next day.
Winter to spring. Back to winter. Rain and ice. Warm and cold. Back and forth. Again and again. Some mindful reflection tells me March is always like this. It’s normal. It’s okay. Times like this happen. Seasons are essential. Down times are good for growth. Yet, they can be exhausting and have been known to trigger a dark night of the soul or two. So, I thought I would share a few things I’m doing to stay hopeful, cheery, and bright on the inside instead of worrying over the Ides of March.
Here’s how to thrive. . .
Light — When you see a sunbeam, step into it. Stay there.
Warmth — Cozy up to a fire, tea, coffee, a candle. Stay there.
Good books — Light reads with happy endings especially.
Smiles — Give them. Receive them. Notice them. Create them.
Extra nourishment — Grab a smoothie, a salad, a vitamin boost.
Cake — Celebrate something. Celebrate yourself. Eat happy.
Getting outside — Daily. The most important item on the list.
Music — Chill vibe songs like the ones on our Retreat playlist.
Vacations — Take them. Real ones. Unplugged ones.
Creating — Effort-driven rewards are real ~ It’s chemical.
Extra time — Add a buffer to your tasks. Just for now.
Perspective — Look at things in new ways. Just for a minute.
Checking in on your goals + visions — Now is a great time.
Gratitude — Name a few things you’re glad for. It’s powerful.
Down time — Do less. Break up with your phone if you need to.
Coffee breaks — There’s a reason they exist. Take one.
Time alone — It’s essential. Put it on your calendar. Fight for it.
Chatting with friends — Call to say hi. Even if it’s just for a minute.
Uncluttered spaces — Get organized on the outside + inside.
Showing up for yourself — Daily commitments should always include commitments to yourself ~ yoga, journaling, passion work, daily quotes, movement, time outdoors, meditation . . .it all matters.
These are little things, but when you start stacking them up day after day, they can make a big difference. And before you know it, March will be over and you’ll be thriving your way right into something new.
Now, an exciting Retreat announcement! 🌲🍄🧘♀️
I’m so excited to announce that registration has officially opened for our spring Well + Wander Retreat at the beautiful Yellow House Inn where we’ll be hiking and exploring in and around Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor again on May 10-13 ~ an opportunity for you to:
Connect with positive, like-minded women
Enjoy the beautiful Yellow House Inn, steps away from the shore
Learn from nature and your own intuition in outdoor workshops
Have fun and explore your creativity through watercolor classes
Click here for details about registration, Early Bird discounts, and all the fun things we have planned.
If you’re not familiar with Well + Wander Retreats. . .
Well + Wander is the retreat space my friend Sara created with her friend Jena back in 2020—the one I read about in my local newspaper and joined for their 2021 fall retreat. Looking back on that retreat recently, I found the 2021 Instagram post with retreat photos and these words I shared about the experience:
“When I read the story behind Well + Wander Retreats in our local paper, something told me I should reach out to the leaders right away.
I met Sara the next week, heard all about their fall reset retreat, and knew I needed to be there.
I never do that sort of thing for myself, but I couldn't ignore how much I needed it. Friday, when I walked into Yellow House and got settled into my room (& saw a beautiful claw-foot tub just for me), I knew I was right where I was supposed to be.
We learned so much, lived so much, and I changed so much. (We also ate the most delicious, healthiest, heartiest food I've ever tasted.)
My family took one look at me when I got back home yesterday and knew I was a new me – a calmer, lighter, higher self kind of me. I truly will never be the same.I just want to say how thankful I am for that article in the paper, that Voice that nudged me to be there, and that I said yes.”
Last year, Sara’s friend Jena branched off from Well + Wander to focus on coaching women in leadership, and Sara asked me to step in for a season to create the Creative Reset Retreat we hosted last October and it was hands down the most restorative, fun, inspiring, and encouraging ladies’ weekend I’ve ever been a part of. It seriously felt like I left home that Friday planning to have a little outdoor fun and a few good chats with a small group of big-hearted, like-minded women, and came back home on Monday to find that my husband had a new wife, my kids had a new mom, the world had a new Celeste— the real one. Sara felt the same way and we decided to make our retreat partnership official by taking on the Well + Wander space for our retreats year after year after year.
So this is part of what I do to empower women to thrive now—I write, I chat about books, I publish things, and I take women hiking and biking and exploring Acadia National Park on women’s retreat weekends with Well + Wander.
I hope you’ll read a little more on the Well + Wander website and come chat with us on Instagram where we share all kinds of wellness inspo and retreat info on the Well + Wander Instagram account.
And I hope you’ll plan on joining me here this May!