summer Archives – KCC Positive Business Psychology

3 Ways Summer Supports Growth and Happiness

3 Ways Summer Supports Growth and Happiness Summer serves as a perfect reminder of our connection to nature’s cycles. In our human-made surroundings, we can easily overlook this reality. We belong to the wonderful natural world, and its principles are relevant to us as well. Think of it like understanding the body’s circadian rhythms, which regulate sleeping and waking cycles. Similarly, our bodies have natural seasonal cycles that align with the natural world. As science reveals more about the importance of connecting with nature, we discover that following nature’s rhythms promotes health and happiness in our lives. Here are 3 ways to use the natural rhythm of summer to encourage growth and happiness in your life this season. 1. Summer is a Season of Growth and Productivity. In summer, nature displays power through growth. Young trees grow tall with bright green leaves. Flowers bloom, and young animals explore their surroundings. It’s a great time to be alive. What does this mean for us? Take advantage of the natural inclination to grow during this time. Take that class you’ve been thinking about. Sign up for that certification program you’ve been researching. Join a new club. Get the training that will help you reach that next benchmark. Take the leap! Embrace personal growth. 2. Summer is a Season for Connecting to Nature. Spending time in nature is an excellent way to boost personal happiness. It also jumpstarts creativity and lifts our mood. Taking a walk outside, through a park or down a tree-lined street, can inspire new ideas or simply replenish our minds, leaving us feeling more peaceful and refreshed. Set aside time to connect with nature. Try finding a new spot to enjoy a sunrise or sunset. Bring a picnic or snack to the park, whether you're alone or with friends. While you're outside, be sure to engage all five senses. What do you smell, taste, see, hear, and feel? 3. Summer is a Season for Adventure. What new adventure is calling to you right now? Perhaps you’ve been considering a job or career change. Think of the start of the summer season as Mother Nature’s way of offering you a boost out of your usual routine and into new possibilities. Summer offers an excellent opportunity for travel and exploration. You don’t have to venture far for an adventure; simply stepping away from your daily routine and visiting a new place can provide a refreshing escape. If you’re thinking of staying closer to home, why not check out a new restaurant or explore a different type of cuisine? Perhaps there’s a local museum you haven’t had the chance to visit yet? And don’t forget about the local music scene—maybe there’s a venue that’s showcasing a band you’ve never heard of before! Schedule your upcoming adventures by marking your calendar. Designating a date can motivate you to step away from your everyday habits and follow through. Invite a friend or two to share in the fun! Create Lasting Happiness This Summer As [...]

Get Ready for Summer: Update Your Goals and Make Time for Joy

Get Ready for Summer: Update Your Goals and Make Time for Joy Starting the year with goals in mind is a great idea. What makes that approach even more effective is checking in periodically to evaluate what’s working, what isn’t relevant anymore, and when we need to reprioritize. With the summer approaching, now is a perfect time to sit down with our list of New Year’s Resolutions and see how we’re doing and how we feel about the goals we set at the beginning of the year. Here are 3 steps to update your goals and make time for joy. 1. Are your goals still relevant? Let’s spring clean! When reviewing the goals you chose in January, consider which ones you've already achieved. Have you finished that big project? Have you been going to the gym? Take a look at your list of goals and check off the ones you've done. Celebrate what you’ve accomplished so far. Also, think about which objectives are no longer relevant and remove them from your list. We all change our minds and that’s fine. I call this “spring cleaning my to-do lists”! Any new summer goals you want to add to the list? Family, health, nature…what inspires you these days? Remember to pick only what’s most important to you and to be realistic in order to set yourself up for success. Often, less is more…I even have a “Not To-Do List” and I love it!! 2. Acknowledge the Progress You’ve Made. Acknowledging your progress can help energize you to keep moving forward. What’s working for you? What’s going well? What’s almost done? Take a few moments to think about how you achieved progress. Perhaps you have an encouraging note taped to your bathroom mirror. Maybe you have reminders set to pop up on your phone or calendar. What tools and strategies work for you? Make sure you continue using the techniques that support your growth. Consider updating the notes or reminders with a fresh message and try some new ways to continue doing things that make you happy and successful. 3. Add Joy. As summer approaches, perhaps it’s time to shift your focus to creating time for family and friends or simply enjoying the outdoors. Think about what adds joy to your life and where that happiness boost fits into your daily or weekly life. It might be as simple as taking a ten-minute walk at the end of the day or enjoying a cup of tea outside in the morning. Make time to engage with the people and activities that help you recharge. This helps break up the fog of monotony that can come from getting lost in our daily work and life routines. Add a breath of fresh air, whether it’s from a literal walk outside, coffee with a friend, or a visit to a meaningful place, like a museum or art gallery. You can learn more ways to increase your happiness in my book, 21 Days to Happiness. Each day of the [...]