Resources for Our Happiness
A caregiving experience includes so many unhappy moments. How can we add happiness to our days?
Welcome to our sixth issue of our newsletter which helps libraries share resources for those who care for a family member.
This month, we focus on finding happiness because March 20th is the UN International Day of Happiness.
You are welcome to copy and paste any or all of the content of this newsletter on your library website. Please also feel free to share this newsletter with colleagues and friends who may benefit. (Note: We refer to individuals who care for a family member as family caregivers. We refer to the individual receiving care as caree.)
Our curated list of resources takes into account what can help give family caregivers more time. Denise M. Brown, who began working with family caregivers in 1990 and caring for her parents in 2004, creates our list.
Apps
Apps that can make it easier for us to find and keep our happiness include:
Happifly. Find out your happiness score and start improving it today. Complete a few activities each week to start seeing meaningful improvement in your life satisfaction and your ability to fight back against negativity. Millions of Happify members have experienced this shift. So can you.
Daylio. Keep a diary and capture your day without writing down a single word.
Unique Daily Affirmations. This free affirmation app that is available for free on the iPhone and Android devices. This uplifting tool can make positive changes to your daily thoughts. Say the affirmation out loud and believe in yourself. Focus on one affirmation and let your mind think about it throughout the day.
Books
These books can help us tap into our definition of happiness:
Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brené Brown. From the book description: “In Atlas of the Heart, Brown takes us on a journey through eighty-seven of the emotions and experiences that define what it means to be human. As she maps the necessary skills and an actionable framework for meaningful connection, she gives us the language and tools to access a universe of new choices and second chances—a universe where we can share and steward the stories of our bravest and most heartbreaking moments with one another in a way that builds connection.”
How Happiness Happens: Finding Lasting Joy in a World of Comparison, Disappointment, and Unmet Expectations by Max Lucado. From the book description: “In How Happiness Happens, Max Lucado shares the unexpected path to a lasting happiness, one that produces reliable joy amidst any life circumstance. Based on the teachings of Jesus and backed by modern research, this book presents a surprising but practical way of living that will change you from the inside out.”
The Happiness Project and The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin. I loved The Happiness Project which really empowered me to think about my happiness in a more intentional way. From the book description: “With sharp insight, compelling research, and hilarious examples, The Four Tendencies will help you get happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative.”
Events
The Caring Conference: Our Treasured Transformations will happen on March 25. It’s free to join us for our free virtual event. Health care professionals can earn as many as 7 CEUs for $20.
Strategies
Caring Our Way, our community on Mighty Networks, features a free course called Take Time, a Caregiving Happiness Project. For family caregivers, the day can be too full of worries, laundry, hands-on care and medications. It definitely can be an unhappy situation. But, can it be a happier one? We begin our project on April 1!. Join Take Time and explore the possibility of greater happiness with us.
Caring Our Way also features Your Caregiving Department where family caregivers can pose questions and receive support from Certified Caregiving Consultants.
Wishing you happiness today and every day.