Every year, our team chooses a theme to embrace for the upcoming year. Resolutions are a bit dated, and choosing a theme allows us to flow more into our day-to-day. With that said, we decided on Play & Nurture as our two themes.
10 Ways We’re Bringing More Play and Nurturing Energy
1. Watch a Foreign Movie or Series
Turn the subtitles on and watch a foreign film or TV series. There’s a unique allure in witnessing a thriller, mystery, or drama unfold from a different perspective. Experiencing it in the original language also adds to the overall experience – yes, we’re looking at all of you anime dub watchers.
Here are some of our suggestions:
- First Love (2022) – a Japanese series inspired by Utada Hikaru’s hit song, “First Love.”
- Kita Kita (2017)- is another pull-at-your-heart Filipino movie recommended by my best friend.
- Pálpito (The Marked Heart) (2022) – a Colombian thriller that will have you at the edge of your seat.
2. Read More
Reading means slowing down; it’s carving out time for yourself to get lost in a story and a world. I’m currently reading Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. I picked it up while in Japan, craving something nostalgic. If you’ve been following us for a while, you probably notice that we love taking trips down nostalgia lane. Reigniting our love for reading is something we’re focusing on this year.
Here’s what else is on our list:
- Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
- Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience by Brene Brown (if you haven’t watched the Call to Courage on Netflix, we highly recommend it – she’s hilarious!)
- Among the Living and the Dead by Inara Verzemnieks
3. Make Good Art
Marissa and I are both part of a creative writing group. We love how our group has evolved throughout the years, experiencing a set of celebratory milestones and unpleasant experiences. We learned that uncomfortable situations and experiences make for good art. It’s such a great way to look at it from a different perspective.
Thanks, Marie, for sharing this humorous cartoon art inspired by Niel Gaiman’s words: Make good art.
Here are some suggestions:
- Write a haiku about how you burnt toast this morning
- Draw a cartoon of a date gone wrong and give it a happy ending
- Paint a picture based on a dream you had and give it more color.
4. Take More Walks
Connecting with nature is always good for the mind and soul. Listen to the natural sounds of the world and observe your surroundings. If you’re traveling, stroll around your neighborhood, or if you’re staying in Guam, walk the Hagåtña Heritage Walking Trail.
Here are some suggestions:
- Spend 10 minutes of your lunch break walking outside.
- Cloudwatch
- Float in a pool and listen to how the water sounds.
5. Cook Recipes From Your Grandma
Grammy always has the best recipes. Learn grandma’s signature dishes and add them to your cookbook. Akina learned to make ozoni, the traditional mochi soup enjoyed during New Year. While every region has its version, it’s eaten to bring success, good wishes, and good health.
Here are some recipe ideas:
- Christmas treats and family favorites
- Hearty soups for cold days
- Grandma’s go-to breakfast foods
6. Laugh Everyday
You can’t deny that laughter is the best medicine. While anger can have a severe negative impact on our emotional well-being, laughter is said to have some magical effects that help boost our immune systems. We love a good laugh, whether through a podcast, a comedy sketch, or just having good conversations with friends.
Here are some of our suggestions:
- Listen to the Daily Shower Thoughts
- Read some of your favorite comic strips from back in the day.
- Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka has been popping up on my feed lately, and I’ve been having a blast watching her comedy sketches. She’s half-Japanese, so her jokes are relatable.
7. Host a Monthly or Quarterly Game Night
Gathering with friends doesn’t always have to involve dining out. Host a Sunday Game brunch or an at-home dessert tasting with your favorite multi-player board games.
8. Christmas in July
I mean, why not? Why wait until the holidays to get together? Invite a couple of friends, play some good ‘ol Harry Potter, and have a white elephant just because. This is also a fun activity to do with your kids and a way to make some memories together.
Make your gift exchange fun and inexpensive with these creative ideas:
- Handmade gifts only
- Baked goods gifts
- Don’t purchase new gifts; instead, choose from items you already have that have been loved. This can be a favorite book looking for a new home, a woven blanket you purchased but never used, or flowers from your backyard. This is a more sustainable way to repurpose gifts.
9. Do it Alone
Eating alone is a simple way to nurture a relationship with yourself and truly enjoy your own company. A relationship with the self is such a beautiful thing. Every year, I would watch a movie by myself on my father’s birthday, and it’s a way of honoring his memory and having personal time to celebrate him.
Here are some solo date ideas:
- Grab a book and hit the beach for some saltwater therapy
- Book yourself a pottery class
- Go on a mini road trip or book a staycation for yourself.
10. Tap Into Your Flow
The flow state is where the magic begins. It’s the incredible feeling of being completely immersed in your work. According to VeryWellMind, “it takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes of focused attention to reach a flow state. Once in flow, it may last from 30 minutes to a couple of hours. However, it is possible to achieve flow more than once a day, given the right conditions.”
Simple tools to help you get into flow:
- Blank canvas + new medium – try using a medium you’re not used to to create an art piece for fun whether that’s watercolor, acrylic, colored pencils, etc.
- If you’re looking for a bit of an adrenaline rush, try using Squibler. Considered to be the “most dangerous writing app,” this app is not for the faint-hearted, especially for writers. Your words fade from the screen once you stop writing.
- The Forest App helps you stay focused. Your virtual forest grows when you accomplish your goals by setting a timer through the app for undisturbed productivity blocks.
It’s Never Too Late to Choose a Theme
We love that so many people are embracing PLAY in 2024! It’s never too late to choose a theme. If you’re having some trouble choosing a theme, here are some suggestions:
- Mindfulness
- Minimalism
- Flow
- Sustainability
- Nourishment
- Creativity & Expression (our 2023 theme)
- Balance
- Adventure & Discovery
- Magic
- Self
- Health
Let us know what you chose for this year in the comments below!