Do you need some joy in your life?

Imagine you could just click a few buttons and have an extra dose of joy in your life.

This Joy Generator doesn't promise to turn your world upside-down in a good way, but it has some useful and fun (and research-backed) prompts to help you find some joy.

If you're struggling to find joy or experiencing a difficult time the tools in the generator above can be really powerful. Many are applicable to children too.

Maybe you don't need it yourself, but someone in your life does. Feel free to pass it on.

CLICK HERE TO LOAD THE JOY GENERATOR

This article from Harvard Health also provides some fascinating insights into the experience of joy, why we need it and how to cultivate it.

It includes these practical tips to help you find joy, even when life gets tough:

During difficult times, it becomes twice as important to modify your routine, allowing yourself to experience joy. Here are some ideas, although it may take some trial and error to find what works best for you:

• Perform regular aerobic physical activity. Think of physical activity as releasing a bubble bath of neurotransmitters — and their effects linger long after the exercise is over.
• Dedicate yourself to others. Activities such as volunteering produce greater joy than focusing on oneself.
• Connect with your spiritual side. When we join with something larger than ourselves, we develop feelings of gratitude, compassion, and peace.
• Discover something new. As humans, we are hard-wired to experience joy when experiencing novelty. Developing a new pursuit can help us refocus our energy.
• Give yourself permission to take a few moments of pleasure, especially when you are feeling low. You can try NPR’s Joy Generator for a taste.
• Pay attention to the good. A joyous mindset can be developed, but takes practice. The three good things exercise helps you keep an eye out for the positives during the day.
• Conversely, limit negativity. Whether it’s gossipy coworkers, a toxic relationship with a family member, or a complaining friend, spending time around a negative mindset influences us directly. It’s okay to set limits.
• Focus your efforts on what brings meaning to your life (and don’t focus on money).
• Ask your doctor about whether your medications can affect your ability to experience pleasure, especially if you are taking antidepressants.

Click here to read How to find joy (or at least peace) in difficult times.

Thanks for looking after yourself, your kids and those around you!