The critical difference between a languishing life and a flourishing life is fairly prosaic. It might boil down to the Day Crafting systems we have in place to enable good habits and the skilled use of time.
People are attracted to the alternative fantasy path to the good life, thinking that a few memorable events, accomplishments, material possessions or status will get them there. Worse still, many people have bought into the happy-future idea that means postponing happiness – or not even starting the happiness project until the conditions are right, turning happiness into a condition: I’ll be happy when ...
To clarify, the challenge you need to become skilled at is: how can you shape the very day you’re living?
Try this Five A Day tool as a Day Crafting primer. Try it for one day. See how you go. We understand that our nutritional health is made up of daily beneficial practice (five fruit & veg) rather than eating junk for a month and then salad for one day. So it is with our wellbeing. It is made up of daily practice not weeks of mindless misery with a happy moment once in a while.
NB: A lot of the ideas below have certain factors in common. They’re autonomous, you’re in control and the choice to do them is up to you. They’re self-contained and you can be self-reliant as you do them. They’re adaptable to a variety of situations and can fit into various gaps in your days. They have immediate and accumulative effects and you’re intrinsically motivated, you’re doing them because you want to, not because you have to. These same factors are good ingredients to apply much further in your days, as you craft your work tasks for example.
Before you choose some optional five a day activities, there are some non-negotiables that you should have daily including safety and security, good sleep, nutrition and exercise etc.